Bella's Point of View

Not wanting to draw any unwanted attention, Alice escorted me and Connor out of the bookstore. Instead, we walked about two blocks down the road to a tiny bistro. It almost appeared abandoned. No one was there, except a single employee. The area was poorly lit but had a nice fragrant smell. It was clean and obviously well-maintained, which begged the question, why was it so dead in here? It was a little after lunch time, shouldn't there at least be a couple customers. Regardless, the three of us took a seat at a small booth towards the very back. Alice had ordered me a sandwich and Coke.

"What's this all about?" I asked quietly, looking across the table at Connor as I took a swing from my drink. My mouth had gotten dry. I was still reeling with surprise that Connor knew about vampires. Why hadn't he mentioned anything?

Alice sat next to me, her eyes not leaving Connor for a moment, she remained tense. On high alert. As if he was a threat. I wasn't sure why that was. He has never been anything but a good friend. There was no reason to distrust him, was there?

"Let me just start out by saying, I'm sorry I ambushed you like this." He replied with a sheepish look. "Your friendship really does mean something to me. This wasn't meant to be malicious."

"I'm not sure what's going on, but I'd never assume that."

"To be honest, I've been searching for a way to speak with a vampire, for a long time. But any that I've come across weren't friendly, or didn't have the answers I was looking for." He said, taking a slow drink from his mug.

"Why is that?"

"Retribution. My mother was killed by a vampire, leaving me and Kay completely alone. There has been no justice for her death. Human authorities won't seek it. They don't believe in the existence of monsters. So, I need to take this into my own hands. And find the bastard responsible."

"You realize how insane that is right." I muttered, moving my sandwich up to take a bit. The taste was nauseating. I quickly dropped the sandwich back to the plate and gulped down another drink of my Coke.

Well, I guess that solves one mystery. This bistro is empty, because the food was terrible.

"What makes it insane? Sure, they are powerful, but I am too." Connor commented with the click of his tongue.

I raised a brow. "Connor, you're only human. What makes you think you could survive a fight with a vampire, let alone killing one."

"There is a lot you don't know about me, or my family. Things I'd rather not get into right now. But I can assure you, I can kill a vampire."

I looked at Alice now, who had been staying completely quiet and hadn't moved a single inch since we sat down. "Is what he is saying possible?"

She visibly swallowed, before nodding her head. "He is telling the truth."

Why did she seem so afraid right now?

"There is something you aren't telling me," I glanced between them. "I'm not going to be able to help anyone if I'm left in the dark on the deeper details."

Connor sighed, chewing his lip for a moment. He appeared conflicted. His foot was tapping heavily under the table. I've never seen him so on edge. It was driving me insane. What was he keeping from me? I was dying to hear his secrets.

"Look Bella, if I tell you everything, it will put you at risk. And I know if something happens to you. Edward will kill me. And I can't let that happen. Not until I find the vampire responsible for killing my mother." Connor said so quietly, I barely heard him.

This was sounding more and more dangerous by the second, but my curiosity wouldn't allow me to let this topic go. It was a bad habit. My thirst for knowledge was unending. And when it came to the supernatural world, I was fascinated with it all.

"If you want my help, you need to tell me everything. I can't agree to anything, unless I know what your intentions are."

Connor now faced Alice fully. "You can see her future, correct? If I tell her everything, what will happen?"

Alice flinched, as if returning to the present time. Her expression went blank for a moment, arms recoiling inwards, her fingers twisting around each other heavily. Her lips parted open slightly, just for a few seconds.

"Bella's future will not be affected in a negative way. The secrets you reveal here today will be safe." Alice spoke, shifting into a straighter position. Her shoulders set. Determination entered her golden eyes. "And I can assure you, my family will help with your plans."

Connor appeared a bit more relaxed. A sigh of relief blew past his lips as he let himself slouch more into his seat. "That's the best news I've heard in… years."

I couldn't wait any longer. "Now, let's hear it. Tell me everything."

"My family tree goes back really far - to the very beginning of vampires coming into existence. As I'm sure you are aware, vampires aren't born. They are created. Do you know, how the first vampire came to be?" He said, slowly taking another drink from his mug.

I shook my head. "No, I have no idea. I never even considered it."

"A small tribe in Egypt, banished and outlawed from society, was driven out of their homes and out into the wilderness. These people weren't normal, they had amazing abilities and powers that humans just didn't possess. Branded as witches, they were hunted and tormented." He spoke. "Soon, the tribe was down to only four individuals. One man, with an indestructible body. Another man, with superhuman hearing and vision. A woman, that had the strength of ten thousand men. And a child, with intelligence far beyond any of those of that era."

This story was very interesting. I was certain, not even Alice had heard this before. She watched Connor with open interest. She was on the edge of her seat with each word.

"To protect themselves, this tribe harvested the blood of each of their members and used their powers to create the very first vampire. This vampire had all their unique abilities. The vampire had such a large amount of power, its body couldn't be sustained. Food wasn't enough. They realized this creature wasn't balanced with nature properly. With all this great power, there must be equally great drawbacks."

"I'm guessing they fixed that issue, with creating the thirst for blood and the skin shimmering in the sunlight?" I asked, following along as best I could.

"Well, you're right about one thing. They used their magic to create an agonizingly strong thirst for blood. This was the way they balance the vampire. But this led to another huge problem. When this happened, they could no longer control this creature. The vampire began hunting humans. It killed thousands of people. And there was no end in sight." Connor said with a sigh. "The tribe could only think of one thing to do. They had to destroy their creation."

I hadn't realized that I was holding my breath, until Alice lightly nudged me in the side. I left out a breathless gasp, before giving her an embarrassed look. Connor noticed and quietly chuckled.

"If this is too much for you, I can stop. I know it all sounds a little crazy."

It sounded completely crazy. But I had no reason to doubt him. How could I not believe him? I've been a part of the supernatural world for a while, nothing should take me by surprise anymore. But I had to admit, this was a lot to disgust.

"No, keep going, this is very interesting," I coaxed him to continue.

"Very well," He paused for just a moment to finish up his drink and slide the empty cup to the edge of the table. "With all their remaining magic, three members of their tribe used their powers on the child of their group. They made the child into a weapon that could effectively kill the vampire."

"Why would they pick to use a child for something like this?" I said with slight displeasure.

"I don't know why, but it proved to be the wrong thing to do. Even with all that power, now the child was utterly alone. The rest of the tribe perished from this. The child didn't want to kill the vampire. They were a kind, peaceful soul. So instead, the boy fled. He spent a few lifetimes figuring out how to end the death of innocent humans, without committing any acts of violence against the vampire."

"Well, that's a very honorable thing to do." I said with a small smile. "It reminds me a lot of how Carlisle is. If he would have been in that situation, I'd bet he would do the same."

Alice nodded in agreement, smiling as well. "You're right about that."

"Yes, but because of this, many people were killed. Now, as the child became an adult, he was able to create a cure. He infused all this power into his blood. To ensure this cure wouldn't be lost, he impregnated many women, hoping the cure would be passed down throughout his future generations." Connor paused, with a short smile. "That's where the start of my ancestral linage begins."

I felt my jaw drop open. "S-so you are a direct descendant?"

"Yes, it's been a long and challenging road for my family. They have been hunted, killed and manipulated for most of their existence. But they have always been able to produce at least one heir per generation. I'm not even sure if there are any others of us left at this point. I only know of myself and my sister."

"Your blood, is a cure for vampirism?" I whispered quietly.

Connor paused, his eyes scanning our surroundings for a moment, before he offered me one single nod. This nearly sent me over the edge. I couldn't believe it. This was incredible. The blood flowing through his body could turn a vampire, back into a human.

"So, let's say I would drink your blood, then I'd be human?" Alice muttered just as quietly as I had. "Would all the days I've lived on this earth catch up to me? Would I stay to age rapidly… and die?"

"No, not at all. In a sense, your body is frozen from time. Trapped in a place where time stands still. With a small sip of my blood, your body would unfreeze, and time would start again. You'd go through the normal aging process." He concluded.

Alice sat back, going completely silent. She appeared lost in thought.

"So, did the cure work on that vampire? How does the rest of the story go?" I urged.

"Yeah, the man led the vampire into a remote area and allowed it to feed on him. Which killed him. The vampire slipped into a brief period of hibernation, but eventually woke as a human. With no powers, abilities or memories." Connor said running a hand through his hair. "But unfortunately, the vampire had already turned a lot of humans into vampires by this time. And these vampires weren't quite the same as he had been."

"How were they different?"

"Well, for those he created, their skin would glow in the sunlight. They had heightened emotions, due to being human before the change. And some had unique abilities, created from rare traits they had when they were human."

This pretty much explained everything. The complete history of the first vampire. It made sense. But it left me with more questions.

"Well, what about werewolves? I mean… how were they created?"

"That's a story for another time. For now, let's just focus on what's important. I promise, once I get my revenge, I'll tell you anything else you may want to know."

That was fair.

"Okay, so you plan on having this vampire drink your blood, so you can make him human. Then you plan on… killing him?" I said with a collective breath.

"Exactly, it's what he deserves."

"But do you really think that's the right thing to do? Will it really bring you any peace? This would make you a murderer."

"I don't care. About any of that. I just want him dead. I'll take the consequences of my actions. Proudly." He said shrugging his shoulders.

"If you're caught, what will happen to Kay? You are the only one left. You're really going to abandon her like that?"

"I have it all worked out. If I get put in jail, we have an aunt she can go live with in the area. She will be taken care of." It didn't sound like I would be able to convince him.

"Carlisle will never agree to help you, if you plan on killing someone. Even if the guy deserves it. It's just not what he believes in. Morally." Alice said with a sigh.

"But the rest of the Cullens would agree to help, wouldn't they. Especially if they are interested in becoming human again. If it gets me to my target, I'll gladly give them some of my blood."

I felt my heart clench tightly in my chest. Would Edward want something like that? A normal human life? It's something we have never discussed. Why would we talk about something that we didn't know was a possibility until now? This could change everything. I had thought of becoming a vampire, to be with Edward forever, but I knew deep down I couldn't do that. Not with Mia. I couldn't risk the possibility of hurting her. Not to mention, if I became a vampire, someday, I would have to watch her age and die. And I just couldn't bear the thought of something like that. No. I wasn't interested in becoming a vampire. But this could be another option. If it was something Edward even wanted.

"You're right about that. I'm sure this would appeal to some of the others. But you haven't really explained what my family's role in this will be." Alice said chewing at the tip of her perfectly manicured nails.

"I want you to track the vampire. I need to know his location. Help get me there. And when he attacks me. Try to pull him away before he kills me. I'd prefer not to die." Connor chuckled without humor.

"What did he look like, do you know his name? Or can you offer us any details that could help them find him?" I asked as I finished the rest of my Coke.

"Shoulder-length blonde hair, he had it pulled back. Red eyes. Clearly, he doesn't drink animal blood. There were two others with him. A red-headed woman. And a dark-skinned man, with dreadlocks."

"Doesn't sound familiar. Did you see them attack your mother?" Alice asked.

"I saw a glimpse. The three of us were coming out of the movie theater. It was late. We were walking back to our apartment; it was just a few blocks away. My mother walked behind us, talking on the phone with our father. I heard scuffling behind me and saw the blonde one had her by the neck. He was already drinking from her. The other two drug them both down an alley way. And out of sight. I just took Kay and ran as fast as I could. To the most populated area I could think of."

That sounded awful. Like a true nightmare. I had thought my situation with Renee was terrible. But at least, I didn't witness what she had gone through. I heard her struggles and her pain. But I never saw it. Those sounds still played through my mind at night.

"You've never mentioned your father." I said softly after a short pause.

"There is nothing much to say. He's a worthless crack head, living on the streets of Las Vegas. He was never in my life or Kays. The only communication my mother had with him was regarding child support, that he never paid. For all I know, he is dead as well." He spoke coldly of his father. It was evident there was a lot of resentment. It would probably be for the best if I don't pry for any further details. This was probably a touchy subject.

"Is he the one with the cure in his blood? Of was it your mother?" Alice asked, not seeming to sense Connor's growing discomfort.

"My mother had the blood. She taught me all about our legacy and the importance of continuing this cure to future generations." For a moment, his cheeks warmed. "To be honest, I thought it would be you Bella… that would… you know… bare my child."

I flinched at his words, shocked and a bit uncomfortable. "I don't even know what to say to that. I've always seen you as a good friend. Even if I didn't meet Edward, I doubt anything like that would have been a possibility."

"Ouch," he said rubbing the back of his head with a grin. "But I get it. Edward has me beat in all areas of being a man. The looks, the money and the worldclass personality."

He wasn't wrong. Edward really was the entire package. Everything I wanted and more. It was almost hard to believe he would fall in love with someone like me. I don't know what I had done to deserve such a blessing. But I'd hold on for dear life, to keep him at my side. Even if he did decide he didn't want to become human… I would respect that. I'd never ask him to do something I wasn't willing to do myself. I loved him, vampire or human. There would never be a greater love. I just hoped that he would still want me… as an old gray woman.

"Let's get back on track here." Alice said redirecting the conversation. "I really need to discuss all the details with the others before we give you a definitive answer."

Connor nodded with a content smile. "I can respect that. When can I expect an answer?"

"By midnight, I'll give you a call." Alice said presenting him with a piece of paper that had her cell phone number on it. Connor took it with a thankful smile.

"I really do appreciate it."

With that, Connor decided to take his leave. He left the bistro, in high spirits to begin the drive back to Hanover. For a moment, the two of us just sat in silence. There was so much information to digest. I couldn't tell how Alice was feeling. Her expression remained relatively blank. It wasn't until we paid for my meal and left the building that her emotions started leaking out from under her perfectly crafted mask.

Her shoulders trembled; a look of sadness came to her face. I was instantly worried. I hugged her in for a side-armed hug as we walked a few blocks, back towards her car.

"What's wrong? Are you alright?" I asked gently.

"Sorry, I'm just a little overwhelmed by it all. I didn't know… there could be an end to this. I had finally accepted my fate. But now…" She stopped talking as we made it inside her car.

"Listen, this doesn't have to change anything. If you don't want to be cured, you don't have to take it." I said as I buckled myself in.

She shook her head slowly. "But Jasper, he would want something like this. It would free him from all the pain he is going through. He wouldn't have to feel the emotions of others anymore. He wouldn't have to struggle with his thirst. He can just be happy."

"Are you sure this is something he would really want? Have you ever talked to him about something like this?"

"No, never. I don't know how he truly feels about being a vampire. He's never said the words out loud. But I know my husband. I know he is going to want to do this." She said as she began backing out of the parking space. "But the thought of becoming human… it's terrifying."

I wished that I could relate to what she was feeling right now. Maybe it would help me find the right words to comfort her. But this was an impossible situation for me to give advice. Instead, I'd offer my support.

"Alice, whatever you choose, I want you to know that I'm here for you, I support you. And no matter what, I'll always be your sister." I said, giving her hand a squeeze.

She responded with the biggest smile I've seen from her yet today. "Thank you, Bella, that means the world to me."

With minds full of worries and questions, the two of us began to drive back to Hanover. I had a lot I needed to say to Edward. My anxiety levels were skyrocketing. What would he say? Would he really want to become human?

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