Preface

I’d always secretly liked many of the things that came with being a vampire hybrid. It was true that being half human gave you some disadvantages compared to full vampires. There were a lot of advantages, though. Being very rare was one thing; there was just something about it. I could easily recall some words spoken by Rosalie after I was born. The words ignited that same good feeling as well: ‘She is also the most unspoiled half-vampire in existence, the beauty of being one of a kind.’ At the time we hadn’t known that there were others too. Being only half also gave you freedoms full vampires didn’t have. I could blend in with humans very easily, and that was very beneficial. My favorite, however, was always that Alice couldn’t really see my future. I’d loved the feeling of knowing that. It made me feel like my future could be anything I wanted it to be.

Now I would have traded anything to allow Alice to have full sight over the future. Alice couldn’t see me. No one would hear my screams. And I wished more than anything I were as strong as a full vampire, so I’d have some chance. I wouldn’t live. They’d never even find me. And I’d never see him again.

Read This!

I tuned my ears as far out as I could. I listened to all the sounds around me, and what I found pleased me. For once, I was all alone. I could finally get the reading done I’d been wanting to so badly with no interruptions. There was no point in waiting anymore; I flipped open my old birthday present and starting reading at once. It was such a relief to be able to finally sit down with what I knew would be a good book. The words were already pulling me into a trance, and I absolutely loved it. But somehow the book was moving! Out of my hands. Away from my line of vision! It only took me a moment later to realize why. I obviously had been too into it. His scent should have made me alert much earlier.

“Hey, Jake!” Although I was slightly annoyed at him taking my book from me, I easily let it go. I was always so glad to see him. His sunny personality was so catching.

“Hey, Ness,” he replied back, ruffling my curls some. I jokingly shook them at his face in slight irritation. He pretty much ignored it, though; we spent so many years together we were used to each other’s antics. “So, where is everyone?” The shock in his voice almost matched my own disbelief at having the house to myself. I couldn’t help but smile at the trivial fact.

“Carlisle and Esme were invited to a dinner at the hospital.” I made a face at that. I hoped for their sake they could find a way to escape eating the human food. And I could even put up with it slightly! It would be worse for them.

“Nessie?” Jacob’s voice instantly pulled me out of my thoughts, and allowed me to focus on his question again.

“Sorry for getting distracted.” I smiled sheepishly. “Anyway, Jazz and Alice went to visit Peter and Charlotte. Em and Rose went shopping. Rosalie’s apparently been inspired by a new fashion fad in Greece and wants to recreate some of it. Naturally, she dragged Emmett along as well.” I shook my head somewhat amusedly and somewhat disgusted by the promises I was sure that she had made him to get him to go along with her. I was so very glad that my power was the opposite of my dad’s and I didn’t have to hear their thoughts. I shuddered.

“And where are Bells and Edward?” Jacob voiced, once again bringing my attention to the matter at hand.

“Mom and Dad are hunting.” I answered simply. “And with everyone gone that means I can finally read this book!” I said, elated, while skillfully stealing it back from him. I easily found my place and begin to read again when all of a sudden it disappeared from me again.

“Shouldn’t you have gone too? You look sort of thirsty, Nessie.” He traced the bags under my eyes to prove his point. I halted his hand with my own and couldn’t help but smile at his concern.

“I’m fine, Jake, really. I’ll just go hunting later. I want to read this book!”

He laughed at my childishness. “It isn’t exactly you I’m worried about. I’m more worried for the humans you come across. I would hate to have to take you out,” he said jokingly.

“Haha, very funny, now if you don’t give me my book back I’ll drink your blood,” I joked back. With a slight chuckle he handed it back to me. However what happened next I really should have seen coming by now.

“Wait, wait, wait!” he exclaimed pulling the book out of my hands again, and eyeing the book intensely. “Didn’t Leah get you this for your birthday?” he asked, bewildered.

I nodded, not really sure what to say to his question. It had shocked me too when Leah had given it to me. I’d never been her favorite person in the world. So any sign that things could better between us… I’d grasp at it immensely. Part of me, however, couldn’t help but wonder if she bought it for me because she thought I was evil like Anne Boleyn.

Jacob distracted my somewhat sad thoughts just by saying, “Huh.” He then shook his head, ridding himself of whatever he was thinking. I wondered if our thoughts were on the same wavelength right now. “Don’t understand why either of you would want to read about that tragic part of history.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the reason that had sparked my interest again. This did not go unnoticed by him. He eyed me expectantly.

I’d learned from the past it was useless to try to get Jake to let things go. He’d just pester you until you’d reveal everything just to rid yourself of his never-ending questions. Deciding to save us both some time, I thought it best to just tell him. “I had to do a report on Anne Boleyn for a project in my Lit class. I worked really hard on it. And I think I did an amazing job. Not to sound self-absorbed, that is. Anyway, I ended up showing it to my dad… apparently it was too good for a “normal” high school sophomore to have written it. So, I then spent next few hours trying to dumb it down. The whole fiasco just inspired me to read this.” Our laughter at this was synchronized. However, my laughs ended abruptly whereas I was starting to worry at his hysterics.

“Wow, I always knew you were smart, Nessie… wow, good old Dad!” His words were no longer coherent.

I rolled my eyes at his attitude. After a little while he calmed down. It was only then that I stupidly realized that I could have been reading while he was having his laughing fit. Despite Jake’s words, I couldn’t help but feel that I was a huge idiot.

“That must have been torture for you to do, Ness. It probably didn’t help that textbooks are intentionally made to bore you. Part of the reason I hate school so much.”

I highly doubted they were intentionally made to be uninteresting… but it sure seemed that way sometimes. I nodded my head in agreement to what he had said.

“How can you even stand to look at any more stuff about her after that?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the expression on his face. “Simple. This is actually good.”

Jacob shrugged at my comment; I knew him well enough to know that the gesture meant he didn’t agree with me, but didn’t want to offend me either.

“Ness, let me rephrase that. I want you to be tired of it.” His words took me off guard and I instantly became wary of what he would say next… but he didn’t say anything. It must have been bad if he needed coaxing.

“Why?” The way I said it sounded strange even to me, and I knew by his laugh that it had to him as well. It seemed to have relaxed him slightly, though. His next words confirmed my thoughts.

“It’s just that I think we should go and visit La Push. I mean everyone’s gone; when does that ever happen? It feels like forever since I’ve been there, and it really has been since you were there last. Billy’s been bugging me about seeing you, and I bet the pack misses you some, too. We could do cliff diving, motorcycle riding, watch horror mov-” His words were cut short by the look on my face and I instantly felt bad for raining on his parade. “What is it, Nessie?” he asked, concern leaking into his voice.

“I don’t know if that’s the best idea, Jake. I don’t know how far away my dad and mom went hunting. If they’re still close and can hear our thoughts they’ll come back before we even make it halfway to La Push and stop us.”

Jacob sighed once, contemplating, and once again I felt a huge wave of guilt. “Your dad is way too overprotective of you. Humans do this stuff all the time and you’re more durable than them. Anyway, I think I could take Edward…”

I ignored the joke, for there was something more at stake here. “I think the problem is it reminds him of how close he came to losing Mom when she was doing stuff like that. It makes him a little berserk. I think we should just forget it; besides, I want to read this.” I once again turned my attention back to my book. I should have known that my reasoning wouldn’t stop Jacob.

“Come on, Nessie! I know you want to go. I can read it on your face. This might be our only chance. P-L-E-A-S-E!”

I groaned in frustration. Did he have to make everything so difficult? But then again, I did miss hearing about the latest scandal in the pack, and the beautiful sights of La Push. Alright, so I missed it in general. Jacob noticed the crack in my armor like only he would.

“I know that you want to go.” He said it again, but this time conviction rang in every word. And neither of us could deny that he was right when he pressed my palm against his face. And I knew what he was seeing: memories of me and the pack, us chilling in Jacob’s garage, me smiling happily while talking with Billy. It was where I wanted to be. I placed my other hand atop the one he had on mine that was resting on his cheek as the images assaulted us both. After a few moments he removed our hands from his face and laughed a little at me. I glared in response, but it instantly melted off my face.

“I told you that you wanted to go, Nessie. I know you better than you do.”

And I couldn’t deny that it was true in so many ways. It was the same as how I knew him better than anyone else. Even more than my mom had. “You were right.” I smiled at him.

“Haha, I always am!” he replied to me smugly, and with that the book he’d somehow stolen away from me when I wasn’t paying attention fell to the ground. And I was appalled. For his sake I hoped that nothing was ruined. It didn’t appear to be… but I growled at him in anger anyway.

“Ooh, scary!” He laughed, and I joined in too; his laugh was addicting, just like his smile.

“Hey!” He stopped laughing suddenly. “This is great. Now you can tell Leah that you’re reading the book that she got you!”

I frowned at the thought, if anything it would make her angry. “Jacob… she got me that book a year ago. She won’t be happy that I just started it. I should probably try to avoid her today…” I trailed off.

Jacob frowned slightly at my words. “I don’t know how that will work, Nessie. She’ll be able to smell you.” He spoke this sadly and it was so out of character for him. But before I could worry too much he was joking again. “But don’t worry, I’ll protect you from her.”

I nodded in agreement. Although I really doubted that Leah would give us any trouble. At this point nothing would keep me from going to La Push.

“Well, let’s go!” Jacob exclaimed, and although he was the one that had spoke of hurrying to La Push, I was the first one to run to the garage and hop on my bike. And The Other Boleyn Girl was officially left behind.

When we arrived at La Push, we were instantly greeted with smiles from the wolves and their mates coming to greet us. They’d no doubt already picked up our scents. The boys were ecstatic to see their brother and leader of sorts again. And they seemed just as excited to see me here.

“Hey, vamp-wolf girl!” I heard Embry call to me.

I couldn’t help but smile at the nickname. I may have been half vampire but I loved to hang out with the werewolves. Well, technically they were really shape shifters. As I was pondering this thought, we’d all finished our greetings and before I knew it, Jacob was leading me away to Billy’s house. I smiled delightedly at the thought. He was such a sweet man, and I always seemed to make his day when I visited him. And when we did enter his house I couldn’t help but feel that I was indeed right.

“Jacob!” he hollered first, before pulling his son into an embrace. And as soon as he saw me I was in his arms too. “It’s good to see you, Nessie! Edward and Bella finally set you free, did they?”

His strong hold on me was making it hard to breathe, but somehow I still managed to inhale enough air to speak. “Actually, I snuck out!” A strange glee came from the thought; it was sort of shocking that I had indeed gotten away with it.

“I’m glad you’re here, Nessie, but you really shouldn’t deceive your parents that way...” I knew him well enough to know he was actually glad that I had.

“Don’t worry, I’ll never do it again,” I said whilst winking at him. Billy laughed at my antics, and Jacob joined in too. And once again I felt like a spell was on me or something because I laughed as well. After a few minutes we’d finally all calmed down.

“So, what are you kids going to do today?” Billy asked us curiously.

I shrugged, not really knowing. Thankfully Jacob took the initiative.

“Hmmm… I’m not really sure. Whatever Nessie feels like doing.”

Ugh. I didn’t know, either. This was suddenly becoming difficult.

“Well, do you feel like going to the beach? It is a nice day out…but if you don’t want to we can find something else to do.” I spoke somewhat shyly.

I noticed that Jacob rolled his eyes, and my first instinct told me he did hate my idea. I was about to say I was joking and escape some of this torture when he spoke. “You are so much like Bella sometimes, Nessie. You both are way too selfless and self-conscious.” He shook his head as if doing so would clear it of some of his current thoughts. “Anyway, the beach sounds nice; let’s go before it gets too dark out.”

I smiled, knowing the sun was only a little way away. Since we lived with a house full of vampires, the sun was hard to come by since they all sparkled in the sunlight. We usually lived in dreary cities. I was instantly glad that my sparkle was pretty much unnoticeable so I could enjoy its presence every now and again. I bet Jacob had missed it too.

Jacob smiled at seeing the serene look on my face and I knew our thoughts were one and the same again. “It has been a long time, hasn’t it?”

Billy smiled at our exchange and soon gave us leave with a, “You kids have fun.” With that I pretty much skipped out the door. Jacob was soon following suit as well as chuckling behind me.

When we reached the beach, Jacob instantly put his hand in my own and I felt a blush fill my cheeks at my friend’s action. “You know, this feels nice. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to touch someone my own temperature. Everyone else always seems so cold to me.”

I tightened my fingers around his hand in response to his words. I felt exactly the same. At least we felt normal to each other. Normal. What was normal? I knew I would never be able to be considered that. But at least with Jacob I could sort of pretend. We were both halves of two things. He was the only one that could truly make me feel not too much like a freak. And I knew that it was the same for him as well. We walked a little more and Jacob’s laugh filled the air. I looked over at him, stunned. What could be so funny to him when my thoughts had turned so melancholy? I didn’t have to wait long for an answer.

“This is the exact place that I first unknowingly told Bella that Edward was a vampire. It’s amazing how fast time can pass. Even to those of us who are immortal. I wonder if I’d never revealed this news to Bella if they might have never ended up together. You might not have even been born!” He laughed and I rolled my eyes at the same time.

“If you want me to thank you for my life I’m not going to.” I laughed at him. His face turned hurt and the all too well known guilt returned to me. “I didn’t mean it, Jake! You really didn’t want me to thank you, did you?” He was laughing again and I scowled.

“No, I didn’t. I just wanted to see your reaction.” He could be so annoying!

And soon I found myself subconsciously walking faster than him, and he had to run a little to catch up with me. “Stop being a child! There are more important things to discuss here.”

“Such as…” he coaxed.

I sighed, not really wanting to talk about this, but knowing we had to. “I noticed when you talked about Leah earlier you were a little uncomfortable. Now keep in mind part of the reason I came here was to hear some of the pack gossip. And I don’t want to feel like you’re going back on your deal… so tell me why.” I said this part seriously and part jokingly.

“You are perceptive, Nessie. Okay, the truth is Leah imprinted on someone… let’s just say it’s caused some drama in the pack.”

I nodded at what he said. It wasn’t exactly what I’d expected… but I was still satisfied.

“It’s starting to get dark do you want to go back?”

“Sure,” was all I said as I once again said my goodbyes to the sun.

Jacob, once again tuned into me it seemed, noticed my discomfort and tried to make me feel better. “You know another part of the deal was horror movies. And I don’t want to break our deal… what do you say we head back and watch some?”

I smiled at him and we both continued to walk hand-in-hand toward the really not scary marathon waiting for us. Watch many of them we did, but through part of the second one I started to realize that I was quite tired. Living in a house with mostly people that didn’t sleep and when you had super sensitive hearing… it made it hard for the people who did need sleep to get some shut-eye. In my half awake state I barely registered Jake picking me up to take us home. Still, my heart sped up and I knew we could both hear it. And as Billy quietly said goodbye to us both  I knew that this place is where I’d always want to be. It was my last thought before the darkness overtook me.