AN: As always, you all have been amazing in your support. Thank you and I hope this and my other stories continue to bring you as much joy as it does for me writing them. I have a few 'personally emotional' stories I'm writing on the side that are taking up some of my emotional spoons, but I promise I'm doing my best to continue working on all of my works, even if it is a little bit at a time.

Just a reminder for a few reviewers across platforms, this story takes place throughout Twilight and only near the most recent chapters (chapter 18+) has it reached a point during the time between Twilight and New Moon during which Bella would normally be working her summer job and whatnot. By then, we've completely abandoned canon and are fully divergent so keep trucking on my friends because this is gonna go off the rails pretty soon and in the most awesome ways. Lots of surprises to come, lots of gay to continue!

Thanks once again for your continued support! Reviews and comments are ALWAYS welcome, they feed my obsessive need for validation (I know, I'm in therapy, shhh).

It was amazing how life simply moved on without a hitch. I spent the remainder of my weekend at my cabin, leaving only to venture into town to buy some food to tide me over until I can get my feet under me. I wound up taking a cab to Seattle Monday morning, since I didn't want to bother involving any of my friends by asking for a ride with them. I decided to skip school that day since I had far too much to get done in such little time.

I arrived at the bank nearly an hour after it had opened and the moment I showed them the checkbook and my ID, they truly did treat me like royalty. I was quickly led to the office labeled 'Arnold Weselton, Branch Manager', the man greeting me boisterously with a firm handshake and a pat on the back. He then led me into the ornately decorated office, offering me a seat in one of the plush chairs across from his desk while he closed the door and drew the slatted blinds over the windows.

Arnold Weselton was a tall but portly man, his brown eyes constantly on the move as if he were aware of his surroundings at all times, yet somehow managing to keep his attention on me. His brown hair was silver at his temples, lending him a distinguished look without looking forced, his grin shrewd but amicable. Though his voice was gruff and somewhat raspy making me think of smoky pipes and cigars, it didn't grate against my senses as I thought it might. All in all, I got the sense that there was much more to this man than meets the eyes.

After an exchange of pleasantries and offers of condolences for my grandmother's passing, paperwork was quickly drawn up and signed, and before I knew it I had a whole new set of payment cards and a checkbook in my own name.

"I believe we have everything in order as far as your immediate finances go, Ms. Weber." Weselton went on, his gaze steady now that it was just the two of us. "It will take a bit of work on our end to finish consolidating the foreign assets your grandmother owned, but you need not worry yourself in the meantime. Now, is there anything more we can help with today?"

I thought about by current lack of working electricity at my cabin and decided to ask if he could remedy that since I couldn't exactly put utilities in my name yet.

"Ah, yes," he commented, his voice gruff as he leafed through several papers. "That would be the Braxis estate, fifteen acres with a single building on the property." He pulled a page free from the others and handed it to me. I stared wide-eyed at what I could only assume was the deed to the property. Fifteen acres was nothing to scoff at, but the fact that it now belonged to me was a hard pill to swallow.

"H-How many properties do I own?" I hesitantly asked, my voice hollow as I tried to process everything. I'd essentially gone from destitute to a wealthy heiress in a matter of hours.

The man gave a small chuckle as he pulled up another document and the ledger my grandmother left for me. "Well, with the Braxis property being one of the smallest, you have a total of twenty-seven other priorities worldwide, with fifteen of those existing here in the United States. The total acreage is currently unknown since many of these properties haven't been assessed in over a decade, but at last estimate there were over 300 acres of land available for your use."

I couldn't help but gape, feeling simultaneously flushed with excitement yet cold with anxiety in the same instance. It was suddenly very difficult to catch my breath, dark spots dotting the edges of my vision as I began to hyperventilate. I just couldn't believe that this was my life. Ironically, it was the sudden wealth I found myself in possession of that threw me more than finding out I was a Witch.

"Ms. Weber!" Weselton's sharp voice helped snap me out of what I was sure was about to become an epic panic-attack. "There you are. I know this must be rather overwhelming but I want you to know that you have the full resources of this bank at your disposal. And I, of course, will be happy to assist you through this transition and beyond."

I took a deep, fortifying breath before sending the man a grateful smile. "Thank you. A lot has changed in my life this past year. I appreciate all your help because I'll be honest, I have no idea how to even begin sorting through all of this."

Weselton's smile was warm even as his shrewd gaze met mine directly. "Trust me, I understand. Navigating this world can be hard for those of us with years of experience. I can't imagine this is easy, but I must say I'm impressed by how well you're holding it together so far." His smile fell and in the blink of an eye he was back to business. "Now, the assessment of your properties will take some time, especially those located abroad. In the meantime, I believe we have what we need to begin renovating and updating the Braxis property-clearing and landscaping the area in and around the single dwelling to start, as well as having inspectors out to check wiring and update the building to code so that utilities can be safely installed. How does that sound?"

I fidgeted as I thought about having a bunch of strangers in what I considered my sanctuary. Whatever reticence I felt must have shown on my face because the man's business attitude once again fell as he smiled gently at me. "No worries, the people I work with understand discretion. But after ten years of disuse, an inspection is necessary." At my continued hesitation, he folded his hands atop his large desk and leaned forward. "How about this, I will personally oversee the inspections. I will be present for every moment an outsider is at your property, and you are of course welcome to oversee the process yourself."

I grimaced, but the thought did put me at ease. Besides, I would need to be there to take down the wards long enough for the humans to do their work. They couldn't exactly do their job if they couldn't find the place. Still, I felt bad about potentially taking up so much of his time. "I couldn't possibly ask you to do-"

He cut me off with a wave of his hand. "Nonsense! Your grandmother was our most esteemed patron, and a dear friend. I won't have anyone saying I didn't take care of her heir. Besides," he went on, his smile turning into a tooth grin that made him look years younger, "I haven't been to Forks in years. I'd love to see some of the old scenery!"

I couldn't help but smile at his cavalier attitude. "Well, if you're sure..."

He gave a single nod, his smile dimming somewhat. "I think I'd like to see where 'Lani spent her final days." He blinked and shook his head, his mood lightening once again. "So, was there anything else I could help you with?"

I was hesitant to bring up the forged documents, but the man's confident demeanor and the familiarity with which he spoke of my grandma had me reaching into my bag and withdrawing the paperwork. I hesitated only a moment before passing them over. "'Lani left these for me as well, she said you would know what to do with them."

The only sign of the man's surprise was the slight twitching if his brows. "I see," he stated calmly. "It would appear your grandmother has indeed thought of everything. I will have these documents verified. It they pass inspection then I will have ID cards made up using the scan we took of your driver's license and return these to you along with international passports."

I could only sit there with my mouth hanging open. Seriously, what the hell was my grandma involving me in? International espionage?! He must have noticed my budding panic because he quickly placed the documents in a folder and secured them in his desk before returning his attention to me. "You're doing great, Angela, don't work yourself up now." He laughed at the raised-brow look I was sending his way. "You have to understand that you're now a very wealthy young woman. Having these alternate identities to fall back on is just an added security measure to keep you safe."

I swallowed, finally allowing the reality of my new existence to wash over me. I, Angela Weber, am now worth several hundred millions. I was going to have to do everything in my power to make sure no one ever found this out. I couldn't imagine what people would do to get ahold of even a smidgen of my new fortune.

Seeing the acceptance and determination in my face, Weselton smiled and nodded. "Now, was there any thing else you needed help with today?"

I thought about taking a cab back home, my mind settled on my distinct lack of a vehicle. "I would like to purchase a car, but as you know I'm still underaged, and since I am estranged from my parents, I have no adult to co-sign for one. Is there anything you can do?"

The man's eyes lit up as he considered me for a moment. Nodding, he reached into a drawer to the side of his desk and pulled out a card, offering it to me. "Our bank has a...special relationship with this company. I'm certain if you give them a visit they would be happy to forgo certain...requirements. For the right price, of course."

I sighed and gave the man a wry grin as I took the card. "Of course. Will you do me a favor and give them a call to let them know I am on my way? I simply need to call a cab."

"Nonsense!" he practically shouted as he leaped to his feet. "I was just thinking about heading out for some lunch. I'd be more than happy to give you a lift!"

I felt my eyes narrow at the overenthusiastic man, but my senses weren't flaring up so I decided to go with it. "Sure, Mr. Weselton, I would appreciate that."

Now some might question a teenage girl about getting into a car with a stranger, albeit a wealthy stranger driving a sleek, black Lexus, but then your typical teenager couldn't crush a man's throat with her bare hand or send a jolt of electricity to stop his heart. Yeah, my studies were coming along real good.

As soon as we'd pulled away from the bank, the man seemed to deflate as every bit of tension slipped from his shoulders. He relaxed into his seat as he began removing one of the opal cufflinks from his left wrist. "Sorry about all the pomp and flare back there," he said casually, his voice losing most of the scraggly sound it had held all day. "I knew your grandmother for a long time, young Witch. She was a dear friend and helped me through a very rough patch in my life."

I gasped softly, turning a wary eye toward the man who looked years younger all of a sudden. Like water pouring over a statue, an apparent illusion fell away leaving behind a man who looked no older than his late twenties, if that. He looked nothing like the old man he presented as, his face ovular with sharp, pointed exotic cheekbones and slanted grey eyes. "Do not worry, I am not an enemy. My kind are just as close to extinction as yours are. I am a Dryad, a Nature Spirit, and your grandmother 'Lani helped keep me alive at a time when I wanted nothing more than to die with the rest of my Clan."

I swallowed and could only now tell the difference. His energy was so very strange, a mixture of natural energies of the forests mixed with the tumultuous power of a raging river. "My grandmother's books haven't mentioned Dryad yet. So far I've only learned about Witches, Vampires, Children of the Moon, and Shapeshifters. I just unlocked a chapter dedicated to the Fae folk but I haven't gotten to read it yet."

The man nodded with an easy smile that almost put me at ease. "Let me guess, Athenadora is the author?" When I nodded his smile turned into a grin. "Yeah, I doubt that book will mention the Dryads, considering her kind never really steered close enough to our dwellings. Her particular diet kept her close to humans while we Dryads remained safe within the forests alongside your kind."

I blinked, taking in his words with a bit of wonder. "Athenadora, author of Chronology of the Supernatural, is a Vampire? How the hell did my grandmother get a copy of her book?"

Weselton's laughter flowed freely like the sound of windchimes on a windy day. "Oh yes! She considers herself the authority on all things supernatural. Considering she's more than three thousands years old, I'd say she right well could be. But hubris and solitude do not a proper scholar make!"

I sighed, leaning back against the headrest with a groan. "What in the world has my grandmother gotten me into? First, I find out I'm a Witch and can use magic. Then I find out that my entire family line are descendants of an ancient line beholden to Lilith-"

The car jerked violently to the side as Weselton slammed on the breaks, bringing us to a stop three lanes over as my body was thrown into my seatbelt. Somehow, he had managed to get us into a parking spot alongside one of the older businesses without killing anyone, and I really needed to figure out how he pulled that off. But first, "What the fuck?! Are you trying to kill us?!"

I finally looked over at the man to see him staring wide-eyed at me with what I could only describe as a look of awe on his face. When he spoke, his voice was a choked whisper. "You're...you're Lilitu?" There were equal parts reverence and fear lacing his words and I knew I needed to tread lightly here.

"What if I am?" I returned, subtly calling up my energy to dwell just beneath the surface of my skin. I was well-versed in magick by now but I was still a neophyte, and I honestly didn't know what kind of abilities this Dryad possessed.

Slowly, deliberately, Weselton shifted the car into park before raising his hands into the air in front of him. "F-Forgive me for scaring you, Madam Weber. I had no clue. Your grandmother never mentioned anything of her Order." He paused, turning to stare out the windshield as he ran a hand through his hair. "I only knew she was a powerful Witch. All this time..."

"Um," I cut in, slowly relaxing my hold over my power as I sat up straighter in my seat. "What's so important about the Order?" I knew that our family were stronger than normal Witches because of our unbound magickal cores, but this man's reverence was really starting to bother me.

The man gawked at me for several moments before he slammed his mouth closed. "You truly are new to this world, aren't you?" He shook his head, blinking rapidly as he seemed to pull himself out of whatever stupor mentions of my family had put him into. "The Order of Lilitu are not only responsible for pushing the humans from the great forests and protecting the other species who resided within, but they were also the only species strong enough to challenge the rise of the Vampires millennia ago."

Frowning, I reached for my bag and snapped it open. With a wave of my hand and a small burst of energy, I removed the illusion spells that kept its contents hidden. I quickly pulled out the last book in my assigned reading, The Order of Lilitu. I turned towards Weselton in time to see his mouth once again unhinged at the sight of the book. "I haven't had time to read farther into my family's history. I only just gained access to this knowledge a few days ago."

A low whistle from the man drew my head back up to meet his grey-eyed gaze. "You truly are a child of Lilith," he whispered, that annoying reverence back in his voice. "Maybe this world isn't lost after all." He seemed to come back to himself after his last words, shaking his head violently before facing forward in his seat. "I think it's best you put that book away and do not let on that you have it. In fact, don't tell anyone who you are unless you trust them completely."

I recast my illusion spells and quickly tucked the book back into my bag before looking back over at him as he pulled the car back onto the road. "Why? I thought my family were well liked after we sent the humans packing."

A wry smile tilted the man's lips. "For every person that loves your kind, there are those who fear them. The Order's power was practically limitless, and the other immortal races began to take notice. The Vampires in particular did not trust power in the hands of the other species of supernatural creatures unchecked. They demanded that your Clan work for them as they established their rule some three thousand years back. The Order refused, and the Vampires attempted to wipe out what was left of your Clan, though to little success."

"What happened?" I asked, my intellectual mind chomping at the bit to learn more about this new world I found myself in.

The man gave a dark chuckle, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. "The Volturi, the coven responsible for policing vampire-kind, sent its guard to destroy what remained of the Lilitu Witches. Only, when they arrived, they found nothing of the Witches or their hovels, just a large table layered with freshly preserved human bodies. The vampires, of course, could not resist a fresh meal and they gorged themselves on what they thought was an offering to the Volturi.

"Of course, it was a trick. The guard returned to the Volturi Kings and reported what they had found, and for a time nothing seemed out of the ordinary." He chuckled again, and I was starting to think he had a bit of a sadistic side when he continued. "The guards who partook of the feast slowly began to turn paranoid, their minds shattering as they fell prey to their own instincts. You see, Vampires are very territorial creatures and do not normally work well together in such large covens, and so when they fell prey to the mercy of those age-old instincts, they turned on their fellow vampires and began to destroy their coven from the inside."

I stared out the window wide-eyed once again as I took in everything he said. "The Lilitu," I whispered as I realized what happened, "They cursed the human offerings. They poisoned the vampires."

Weselton nodded out of the corner of my eye. "Yep, and it damn near destroyed the budding coven of rulers. Alas, the Kings were laid low by the disease the Lilitu created, but the Volturi were not finished yet. There were other rulers still alive who managed to destroy the last of the poisoned guards, and when the Volturi Queens took the throne, the coven flourished. Unlike their husbands, they learned not to bother with the Witches, though their hatred of the Lilitu remains stagnant to this day."

"So let me get this straight," I frowned as I began massaging my temples. "The Volturi thought to wipe out my ancestors because we wouldn't work for them. In retaliation, my family poisoned their guards and turned them on each other. Why did my family never try to finish the job?"

Weselton's laughter was loud and surprising as he turned a cheeky grin my way briefly. "You really are 'Lani's granddaughter, aren't you?" He turned back to face the road as we continued on the drive. "Most Witches live with the balance of Nature, much like Dryads and Nymphs. But the Lilitu were forged during a time of war and strife with the humans and had to harden themselves to the reality of the world the humans were creating around them. The Lilitu would have gladly finished the job, ending the Volturi's reign before it could truly take off, but the rest of the Witches would not allow it."

I blinked, then stared at the man in confusion. "The other Witches?" Then, duh, I realized what he meant. "The original Witches! For some reason I assumed they didn't survive the humans' purge."

"Oh they survived, alright," he replied, ire lacing his voice. "They hid out deeper into the forests while the Lilitu stood their ground and fought the humans off. But when all was said and done, the Witches still outnumbered the Lilitu a hundred to one. An accord between the Lilitu and the Originals was struck, and the Lilitu were accepted into the fold and subject to the majority rule."

I felt a sneer lift my lips as I grumbled. "So they simpered on in the background, preaching their holier than thou art bullshit because they still communed with nature while we were dying by the dozens to protect their sorry asses?"

"Bah!" the man laughed again, this time a surprised grin on his face as he turned to glance at a me. "If I didn't know any better, I'd swear I just heard your grandmother come out of your mouth!" He continued laughing as he pulled onto a side road before angling the car onto a drive leading up to a large fenced-in car dealership. I didn't recognize the name of the place but judging by the high-security entrance with a guards nest separating us from the rest of the shiny vehicles, it was going to be pricey.

"Don't worry," Weselton commented as he slipped his cufflink back on, his disguise melding over his features like water before he rolled down his window, handing over his ID to the guard, "Everyone here is completely discreet and won't ask any questions so long as you've got the money. And since I'm bringing you here, they'll know you've got the money." He laughed, though I felt more and more nervous by the second.

Honestly, I wasn't used to having so much money, and the idea of tossing around funds willy-nilly didn't quite sit right with me. Guess I'll have to get over that, since I'm basically a multi-millionaire now. Goddess, grandma, what have you gotten me into?

The process went by rather unspectacularly, which I suppose was the whole point of coming to this company. Weselton handled all of the details and paperwork, only stopping to ask me what kind of car I wanted. I hadn't thought about it, but considering my family's history and origins, I made the only choice I could conscionably make. "I want something electric, minimal emissions."

Weselton seemed to be holding back a smile as he nodded to the burly man behind the desk. Gregorovitch, as he'd introduced himself, nodded and motioned to one of the men standing guard by the door. The nondescript black suit disappeared for a brief moment before returning with three folders, handing them to his boss before returning to his position at the door.

"We have three vehicles available that match your description." He handed the files over to me and I opened them each in time to get a glimpse of them. Great mileage per charge, sleek designs, but what really sold me was the last one, a silver four-door model that looked both roomy while maintaining its smooth design. "This one," I murmured, handing the file to him while setting the others to the side.

"Ah, good choice," Gregorovitch commented, his accent thickly accentuating his words. "Tesla model S. Will you be finalizing the purchase today?"

I looked at Weselton and he nodded. "Yes, I will guarantee the purchase and the funds will be transferred by the end of day as soon as the paperwork is finished."

The man looked exorbitantly pleased at this news, though he quickly hid the emotion as he scowled towards me. "And will your parents be co-signing on this as well?"

Weselton intervened for me as he pulled his briefcase into his lap, and I balked as I realized I hadn't even noticed he'd brought it along. I really need to get a handle on his magickal signature. I can't keep letting him slip things past me. Weselton then produced a few forms and when I glanced over I noticed they were documents of emancipation, signed by a judge and everything. What the hell, how did he get those?!

"As you can see, she is legally emancipated and is recognized as an adult." He held out the form, holding onto it tight when Gregorovitch tried to take it, catching the man's eyes. "I'm sure you don't need to check into this too deeply. We're more than willing to meet your standard rates for the usual discretions."

Gregorovitch's eyes narrowed and the two men just seemed to glare at one another before Weselton released the form. Gregorovitch called out something in what sounded like Russian to the men at the door. Without a word, the two men vacated the room, closing the door. "There seems to be something wrong with our security cameras today," he said as he reached under his desk, a quiet clicking noise following. "I'm sure the paperwork is all in order. Our standard sales fee, unfortunately, has increased in these trying times so I will need to amend the contract on the car."

Weselton nodded and finally relaxed back into his seat. "Of course," he smiled, his eyes twinkling a bit when he turned to me and winked. "We understand completely."

I felt like I'd just run a gauntlet with these two underhanded men, but if it got me ownership of this car without involving my parents then I could go with the flow. "Of course," I chimed in, giving the man a winning smile, "Whatever it takes to get me in that car today."

Gregorovitch focused his gaze solely on me for several moments before a broad grin cracked his reserved features. "Wonderful! Let me just fill out the title for you and we will have you ready to drive momentarily! You will, of course, need to have the vehicle insured to meet state standards, but I'm sure our mutual friend here will have that taken care of."

Weselton nodded when I sent him a questioning look, his smile never wavering. I nodded my thanks to Gregorovitch and the man got to work filling out some more paperwork. Soon enough, a check was filled out and signed, my gaze steadfastly avoiding looking at the excessively large lump sum of money I was paying this man. As soon as the last of the paperwork was finished and the final bill of sale was issued, we were escorted to the front door to find my new car waiting quietly in the drive.

With a last farewell to Gregorovitch and what I was assuming was his bodyguards, Weselton and I made our way to my new car. "Well, here you go, Madam Weber." He patted the top of the car as I slid into the driver's seat. It was brand new and smelled wonderfully clean, everything gleamed and for a moment I was scared to stain any surface with my dingy fingers. I'd never had something so new, so expensive, in all my life. My mother and father weren't poor by any sense of the word, but they valued outward appearance over functionality.

"Can you please call me Angela," I eventually replied, sending the man a wry smile. "I feel so old when you keep calling me Miss and Madam."

The man's grin looked strange on his illusioned face, but it still held that youthful excitement he'd held earlier. "It's a sign of respect and admiration, Madam. I could no more address you informally than I could cut off my antlers." I blinked as he flicked his cufflinks, and for just a moment his illusion flashed and standing before me was a tall man of at least six and a half feet, green and silver hair falling down to his shoulders, a large set of what looked like multiple-pronged antlers sprouting from the top of his head. As quickly as it appeared, it was gone, and I couldn't do more than gape up at the man.

"Here, take this," he produced a black card with white lettering on it. Arnold Weselton was printed on it with a phone number. "That will connect you to my personal line. Call me anytime you have questions or need information. Or hell, even if you just need someone from the supernatural world to talk to. It gets lonely out here." His smiled turned wistful and I returned it while taking the card and tucking it into my purse.

"Oh, here," he reached into his briefcase and pulled out a manila package that bulged slightly on one end. "There's an untraceable cellphone in there, and keys and the address to one of my safe houses just outside of Forks. I would be more comfortable with you staying somewhere I know has working utilities until I can get the Braxis property up to code."

Again, I was left gaping at the man and his attention to detail. "When did you even have time to put this together?" I found myself asking, because what kind of spy movie bullshit was I involved in now?

His grin was once again boyish and I was seriously starting to think he might be a little bit...off. "I always keep an extra untraceable cell on me, but to answer your question, when I realized whose granddaughter you were, I began putting together whatever necessities you might need while I was working on your paperwork. No way am I gonna give 'Lani a reason to come back and haunt my ass."

I laughed, relaxing despite the fact that I was floundering beneath an avalanche of inexperience. "I might just take you up on the safehouse. I didn't really think far enough ahead when I decided to buy an electric car."

Weselton threw his head back and laughed, and beneath the sound I could feel real warmth rolling off the man in waves. He was truly a kind entity. "Ah, but that's what you have me for! Most Witches have a coven to fall back on, but unfortunately you don't. So until you get on your feet and finish schooling, I want you to consider me your guide. I'll make sure your finances and properties are taken care of, and when the time comes I'll be happy introduce you to the North American Coven of Witches."

Feeling the beginnings of a headache, I groaned and let my head fall to the steering wheel. "I am so not ready for any of kind of political bullshit. I just wanna finish up school and summon a Goddess. I leave everything else in your capable hands, oh wise and powerful deer-boy."

The piercing honk of the horn had me jumping back in my seat, a glare leveled towards the innocent, wide-eyed look being shot my way. "Be careful there, don't want to tax your heart with all this excitement." The fingers of my left hand twitched, a small jolt of energy zapping the man's leg. The high-pitched yipe was more than satisfying. "Okay, okay," he grumbled, rubbing this leg. "Damn you Lockwell women, so abusive."

I felt my brow furrow at the familiar sounding name? "Lockwell?"

"Ah, right," he nodded, snapping his fingers. "Witches keep their family names, even after marriage. The names of the families are passed on from generation to generation. Your mother was the modern exception, it would seem. You are a member of the Lockwell line."

I could feel that familiar anger welling up at yet another thing my mother had taken from me. "I would like to reclaim my family name when you can get to it. I refuse to acknowledge the Weber family after all the things that woman has done."

"I wish I could file the name change paperwork immediately but until you are of age or actually emancipated, you'll have to wait. I would suggest simply waiting out the months until your 18th birthday rather than attempt emancipation. If your parents are dragged into a legal battle, I fear they will fight to save face in the community."

I couldn't fault him there. "You're right. Whatever you think is best for now, but as soon as I'm of age I expect that paperwork to be submitted."

He nodded, backing away from the open car door. "You take care of yourself over there in Forks," his voice lowered as he leaned casually against the side of the car. "The residents of that area are not to be trusted."

"If you're talking about the Vampires, then I already know. They actually attend my high school, but they don't seem to be a threat to the humans." I paused for a moment, realizing I might not have anyone else I could ask my next question to. "Do you know why their eyes are gold instead of red?"

His brow furrowed, his lips pursed. "I don't know, I've never heard of such a phenomenon. I only know of their taking up residence there because two members of their coven employ my services much the same as yourself. Your family lineage protects you from most supernatural influence, so you shouldn't feel the pull to their kind that the humans experience, but still, be on your guard. If they discover who and what you are, things could turn ugly."

I nodded readily. "Oh don't worry, I get it. I've overheard them talking and it seems one of them has the gift of foresight, while another (the asshole dating the love of my life) has the ability to read minds. But they haven't seemed to pick up on my thoughts or seen anything incriminating in my future, so I think their abilities are ineffective against Witches."

He looked even more worried now, but he nodded. "It is true that Witch minds and bodies are much different from a humans or other supernatural creatures, so that might be it. Still, be on your guard, you hear me? This world can't afford to lose you."

With that cryptic dismissal, he patted the top of the car and left with a backward wave of his hand. He was walking much too casually and confidently for the portly old man he was pretending to be but I didn't say anything. I was too focused on his abrupt departure and his parting words. I was just one Witch. How could I be so important?

Knowing I wouldn't get any answers staring at the man's retreating figure, I curled into my car and closed the door. I had a few more stops to make before I was ready to return to Forks and I needed to hurry before I lost daylight.