CHAPTER EIGHT

Denali

Bella had gone to school with Edward, so I had to drive myself in the truck. After an excruciatingly slow journey, I arrived at school and parked the antique giant. I got up the next morning and got ready to go to school. Edward had planned to go hunting after school since Bella would be spending the weekend alone with him. Carlisle and I had arranged to travel to Alaska to meet up with a close friend of his who was older than Carlisle and might be more knowledgeable about myths and legends from the past.

After talking to Carlisle, dad had called the school to notify them of my wanting to graduate high school that year, my grades were really good and Carlisle had pulled some strings and convinced the school board that I had gone through an advanced program before arriving to forks.

I spent the day hanging out with Angela, Bella, and the crew. I had spent the whole of lunch explaining to Angela, in a low voice how she has powers and making plans to train. She had agreed to join me for training with Jasper. Mike and the others made fun of how close we had become and told Ben to watch out, but I reassured him that Angela and I were close and that she was like a sister to me.

I also met up with Alice who had told me she was planning on designing a new wardrobe for me. "Seriously Lissy, there's nothing wrong with the clothes I have." I aid defensively, holding on to my leather jacket. "Leather jacket, jeans and boots everyday tends to get dull very quickly, you need my help, Dory." Retorted Alice, with a mischievous smile on her face. We talked for a bit and told me what she was going to do today and how she hoped she could travel with Carlisle and me.

After school, I hugged Bella goodbye and drove with Alice to the to the police station and went to talk dad before leaving for Alaska with Carlisle for the weekend, "Remember kid, listen to whatever doctor Cullen says, he's a smart man, learn everything you can from him, and don't forget to message your mother when you arrive." Said dad. "Sure thing, will do dad." I replied as I hugged him, I left after saying goodbye and Alice and I headed home, I packed a few bags and drove to the Cullens house. Alice promised to return Bellas's truck back home as we left for the airport with Carlisle. 'Damn, I have to get my own car.' I thought, thinking of ways to make money.

On our journey to Denali, Carlisle seemed to be preoccupied and after some prodding from me, he told me what had been bothering him, "Has the volturi known all along about the other creatures and kept us in the dark, I have heard of Shapeshifters and werewolves." "I find it highly unlikely that they didn't know, I think they didn't see the need to share the knowledge with the rest of the vampires as it did not compromise the existence of them. The other creatures are bound in secrecy too, no longer can they hunt humans freely in the open without risking war." We talked for a bit before the plane landed and we made our way to Denali.

Tanya, who I assumed was the leader along with her sisters, Eleazar, his mate Carmen met us outside their home to greet us before welcoming us in. "Carlisle, my friend, it has been a while, how have you been, not too bad I hope?" said the male vampire who I assumed to be Eleazar, "and who is this?" he added, looking at me with curiosity in his eyes, "another talented human you wish to add to your family?" he asked Carlisle, before his eyes widened when he looked closer at me. "Carlisle, what is he, I have never felt a human or vampire with powerful abilities such as his." "No, my friend, he is not human, he is something different, his mere existence questions everything about how we thought the world works." Eleazar looked at Carlisle with wide eyes, Carlisle looked at me and through the mental link I had established he thought, 'show them.'

I ran towards a huge boulder the size of a car a kilometre away and yanked it up with my telekinesis before placing it on my hand and running back to the group, all this in a space of a few seconds, the vampires mouths were open agape, shock evident on their face, I threw the boulder into the sky and quickly sent a fire ball after it, blowing it up into small pieces, Eleazar quickly shielded Carmen and the three sisters had retreated further away, hissing, and were crouched ready to attack me, Fear evident on their faces. "Whoa, easy now, I come in peace."

"Carlisle, what is he? I can hear his heartbeat, yet I have never met a human who is this powerful, tell us what he is." Demanded Tanya. "I could, my dear friend, but I think it best to hear it from the young man himself" replied Carlisle, with an apologetic tone.

Tanya agreed and I told my story, from the beginning when I bonded with the catalyst to my time in forks, to how I had met Freya and Hansen and fought the latter, almost dying at his hands if not for the timely intervention of Angela. I told her about my time in the Mindscape and everything my guide had told me; the vampires were shocked to hear of their origin and the existence of other creatures.

When I had finished telling my story the vampires were now silent, processing what I had just said, Carmen was the first to speak up, "that is a heavy burden you carry child, are you sure you are up to it "she asked sympathetically. "The catalyst believed so, it chose me, and I have to prepare for what is coming." She nodded at my words and Eleazar had visibly relaxed and offered any assistance that was within his means, before inviting us to stay in their home.

After showing us to the guest rooms, the three sisters introduced themselves and offered to help. We chatted for a while and discovered that they were all easy to get along with, with Kate being the easiest of the three to whom I constantly flirted, much to the annoyance of the other vampires. When Irina had finally had enough of us, she complained, "Get a room you two."

I also spent time with Tanya, Eleazar, and Carlisle, conducting research on what we knew about the pieces of the pendant and the pyramid. Eleazar suspected that the Pyramid could be Egyptian or Mayan. After we finished our research and compared notes on potential important places, I had enough laptop setup and carried on researching long into the night.

After a quick nap I woke up and walked around the house, I ran into the sisters, with a cunning smile, I went up to the females and said, "Hey guys, so what do you do for fun around here?" "Not much, really. Would you like to join us as we go outside to spar for a while?" Kate enquired. I went outside after them. Kate and Irina sparred first. The two sisters had a similar fighting style and they were equally matched until Irina froze and fell when Kate touched her, giving Kate the victory.

Irina complained about Kate cheating and I was still trying to figure out what was happening when Kate challenged me to a sparring session, she chuckled, stepping forward. "It would be interesting to see how your psychic abilities fare against my speed and power." With a smirk, I accepted her challenge. "Let's see what you've got. "As we took our positions, the atmosphere crackled with tension. The air felt charged, as if nature itself was holding its breath. With a sudden burst of energy, Kate lunged forward, her movements a blur. I anticipated her strike, using my telekinesis to create a barrier just in time. The impact sent ripples through the air, but I held my ground.

"Nice try!" I called out. Kate flipped back, landing gracefully, her eyes narrowing as she calculated her next move. She darted around me, a whirlwind of speed. I focused, feeling her presence through the air, anticipating her trajectory.

In one fluid motion, I unleashed a psychic wave, pushing her back. Kate stumbled but quickly regained her balance, a grin spreading across her face. "Impressive!" As the sparring continued, the area transformed into a battlefield. We exchanged blows, I began utilizing my psychic powers to enhance my speed and strength while Kate tried to dance around me, her movements enhanced by her vampiric agility.

She launched a series of rapid strikes, each one aimed with precision. I countered, using blocks and parries from my martial arts training, allowing me to block and redirect her punches, our fight a mesmerizing display of my skill and her power.

With a sudden feint, Kate dropped low, sweeping my legs. I jumped, twisting mid-air, and landed gracefully, summoning a burst of energy that sent a shockwave through the ground. The floor cracked under the force, and Kate was momentarily thrown off balance. "Not bad!" she shouted; her voice filled with exhilaration. "But let's see how you handle this!"

Kate summoned her vampiric speed, charging at me with blinding velocity. I focused, channelling my energy, and just as she closed in, I unleashed a powerful telekinetic shield, sending her flying back across the area.

Kate skidded to a stop, her eyes narrowing as she realized she needed to end this. "Alright, no more holding back," she said, a fierce determination burning in her gaze. She leaped, performing a series of acrobatic flips that brought her directly above me.

As she descended, she aimed a powerful kick at me. In that split second, I reached deep within myself, tapping into three quarters of my psychic power. With a swift motion, i countered, creating a vortex of energy that spiralled around me.

The clash was magnificent, a collision that sent a shockwave outward. Kate's kick met the energy shield with explosive force, but I held firm, the power of my psychic abilities amplifying my strength.

In one decisive moment, I redirected the energy outward, a burst of light enveloping the area. When the light faded, Kate found herself pinned against the ground, with me standing before her, triumphant and barely tired.

Kate chuckled, a mix of admiration and frustration in her voice. "You got me, Dorian. I underestimated you." I stepped back, releasing her from the psychic hold. "You put up a good fight. I learned a lot." we shared a moment of mutual respect, the competitive tension dissipating into camaraderie. "Want to go again?" Kate teased, her smile returning.

"Maybe after a break," I replied, grinning back. "You've got some impressive skills." As the moonlight bathed the area in silver, sat down, sharing stories and laughter. The night had turned into something unexpected—a connection forged through the thrill of combat, each recognizing the strength in the other.

Later on, In the soft glow of the kitchen's warm light, I was preparing a quick meal to eat before I went back to my research when I smelt Kate's sweet scent in the next room, out of curiosity I decided to listen to her thoughts to hear what she was thinking about. She was trying to sneak up on me, I chuckled and pretended not to notice her.

I was leaning against the counter, casually munching on a midnight snack, when Kate appeared, slipping into the room like a shadow, her golden eyes catching the light with a mischievous glint. "You know," she said smoothly, leaning against the counter beside me, "for someone with psychic powers, you'd think you'd notice when you're being watched." I smirked, not looking up. "Maybe I just wanted you to think I didn't notice." She raised an eyebrow, amused. "Smart and confident. Dangerous combination."

"Coming from you? I'll take that as a compliment," I replied, finally glancing her way. Her face was close, her cool presence setting my senses on edge. She tilted her head, giving me a playful smile. "Tell me, Mr. Mind-Reader, what am I thinking right now?" I paused, holding her gaze, and then grinned. "That you want to steal my snack. "She laughed, leaning closer. "Oh, no. I've got something else in mind." "Oh?" I teased, taking a step back, though she stepped with me, keeping the space between us charged. "Maybe I already know what you're after." She inched closer, her eyes fixed on mine. "Maybe I like a little mystery." Her voice dropped to a whisper, her cool breath brushing my cheek. "Besides, guessing games are fun." I looked at her, clearly intrigued, before answering, "Guess I'll have to keep you guessing then."

She laughed softly, stepping back with a smile. "You'd better," she said, giving me one last smirk before gliding out of the kitchen, leaving me grinning, my heart racing as i watched her disappear. I finished my snack and went to my room where I slept for two hours before waking up again and continuing my research. After an hour I decided to take a walk around the property and ran into Kate who was about to go hunting in the forest, she offered me to join and I agreed.

In the quiet shadows of the forest, I leaned against a tree, observing the Kate with a mix of fascination and awe. Her eyes flash with a predatory focus as she crouched low, stalking an unsuspecting deer grazing nearby. Every movement she made was fluid, controlled, and almost eerily silent, like she was a part of the forest itself. I made sure to stay perfectly still, my superhuman senses heightened, catching every rustle and soft footfall as she closed in on her prey. I was mesmerized by the way she moved, her strength and grace blending in a way I had rarely seen.

Suddenly, she sprang forward with incredible speed, her hands reaching out to catch the animal before it had a chance to flee. The deer barely has time to react as she held it, her grip steady but almost reverent. She leaned in, her features sharp in the moonlight, and I felt a mix of admiration and curiosity watching her embrace this raw, primal side of herself. As she finished, she released the animal gently, and turned to meet my gaze, licking a stray drop of blood from her lips seductively. Catching my expression, she smirked, clearly aware of the effect the display has had on me.

"Didn't scare you, did I?" she teased, tilting her head with a playful gleam in her eye. I chuckled, crossing my arms. "Nah. Takes more than that to scare me," I said, though there was a spark of excitement in my voice. "But I'll admit, that was… impressive." She stepped closer, her gaze never leaving his. "Impressive? Is that all?" She raised an eyebrow, clearly expecting more. "Fine," I said, my eyes locked with hers. "Maybe I'm a little amazed, too." She grinned, leaning in close enough for me to feel the coolness of her presence. "Stick around, then," she murmured. "I might just surprise you again."

We walked in the forest for bit and soon we were in the heart of the forest, Kate and I stumbled upon a hidden clearing bathed in silvery moonlight. The ground was soft with moss, and wildflowers bloomed in clusters, their delicate petals catching the moon's glow. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves above, casting flickering shadows across our faces as we stood in awe, soaking in the beauty around us.

She turned to me, her dark eyes shining. "This place almost feels… alive," she murmured, her voice soft, barely more than a whisper. I smiled, looking down at her with an intensity that would have made her breath catch, if she needed air. "Maybe it's because you're here," I replied, my tone playful but my gaze serious.

She stepped closer, her cool fingers brushing against my arm. "Is that a line?" she teased, tilting her head. "Or did you actually mean it?" I chuckled, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her in just a little closer. "Maybe both."

We locked eyes, the world around us fading away as the tension built between us. She ran her fingers along my jaw, her gaze flickering down to my lips, then back to my eyes, an invitation in her look. Unable to hold back, I leaned in, closing the space between us, and our lips met in a kiss that was as fierce as it was tender, filled with a passion we could no longer deny.

The coolness of her touch met the warmth of mine, and we lost ourselves in each other, surrounded by the moonlit beauty of the forest. When we finally pulled back, her lips curled into a soft smile.

"Guess you really are full of surprises," she whispered. I grinned, resting my forehead against hers. "Stick around," I said. "I've got a lot more where that came from."

After returning to the house, I found out that Eleazar and Carlisle had found rumors of an ancient relic that could increase the strength of the wearer tenfold but drove them crazy. The relic had been buried deep within the catacombs of France. "We have a contact in France who will verify the validity of this rumor and will get back to us in a month or two if he finds out anything" Carlisle and Eleazar explained, we stayed for one more day.

The next night we met at the same place and kissed again, we were returning to forks tomorrow and I wanted to clear the air and know where I stood with Kate, we stood beneath the pale glow of the moon, a bittersweet calm hung in the air. I watched the Kate, trying to read her expression, but her gaze was thoughtful, her smile soft but distant.

She sighed, looking down for a moment before meeting my eyes. "I've really enjoyed our time together," she began, her voice gentle but steady. "Flirting, the late-night meetings, it was more fun than I've had in a long time." I smiled faintly, though my eyes searched hers, knowing there's more she was holding back. "But?"

She paused, letting the word linger before responding. "But… I don't want anything serious." Her words were careful, each one chosen with a certain tenderness. "Not now, at least. We're from different worlds, and… I don't think I'm ready for that kind of connection." I nodded slowly, a hint of sadness in my expression, though I tried to hide it with a small smile. "I get it," I said, my voice soft. "Guess I should've seen that coming. Doesn't mean I regret any of it, though."

She smiled, reaching out to touch my arm. "Me neither. You mean a lot to me. This… we'll both remember it, right?" "Yeah," I replied, my voice thick with emotion as I let her hand linger on my arm. "I'll always remember." We shared a final look, a moment filled with unspoken feelings and a quiet understanding. With one last smile, she stepped back, leaving me to watch her melt into the shadows, the memory of our connection held close, even as our paths diverged.

In the early morning light, Kate stood beside me as Carlisle and I loaded the last of the bags into the car. We stood next to the car on the edge of a misty forest clearing, our vampire friends gathered around us in a bittersweet farewell. The sky was tinged with the first light of dawn, casting a faint glow over the area.

Kate, who had once shared a spark with the me, stepped forward first. Her usual cool confidence was softened, and she offered me a small smile. "Guess it's goodbye for now," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. I smiled back, a mix of fondness and sadness in my eyes. "For now. I'll be back, eventually." Eleazar, the tall vampire with black hair, clapped me on the shoulder. "You'd better be," he said. "We will contact Carlisle if we find anything new about the pendant pieces."

The others chuckled, though there's was lingering sadness in their laughter. The others in the group, Irina, Tanya and Carmen, gave me quick hugs. "Take care," Tanya murmured to Carlisle and me. "And stay out of trouble… as much as you can, anyway." Carlisle nodded respectfully to the group. "You all have been good hosts." He said, his voice formal but touched with warmth. "We will go to France when your contact finds anything."

Kate gave me one last lingering look. "Take care, alright?" she said softly, the words filled with memories of late-night talks and meetings. "Promise," I replied, a hint of a smile in my voice. With a final wave, Carlisle and I turned toward the waiting car, the forest fading behind them as they head off to the airport, leaving their friends standing in the clearing, watching until they're out of sight.

We boarded the plane back to Port Angeles, then drove back to Forks. Carlisle and I talked and had made plans on how we were going to go to France as soon as the information was confirmed. Which meant I had to get a fake passport and id since I wasn't of legal age yet, Carlisle assured me that jasper had a contact that could help with that. We also discussed how we were going to convince my dad of my frequent travel plans, Carlisle said he would think of something by the time we have to leave.

We reached my home and he went in to talk to my dad before leaving to go check on his family, I was left with Charlie and Bella and told them how the journey and Alaska had been, "it was awesome, the hospital was state of the art and the people there were really friendly," I lied smoothly. I leaned over to Bella and whispered, "I met Edwards's cousins, and they are gorgeous." She looked at me and rolled her eyes at me, I went up to my room after we were done talking and set up my laptop on my desk before falling asleep.

Hello people,

Chapter Eight is done

Please feel free to drop reviews or give suggestions as I feel they will help improve the quality of the story.

cheers,

maximuskahn1994