Nessie's Life

Chapter 26

The water fell, wetting the blanket but thankfully missing my books. I flashed over to him, not caring about how shocked Shelley must be.

He held me at arm's length. "Can it really be? Can this beautiful young woman be the little Renesmee I fought for all those years ago?"

I smiled. "Benjamin." We laughed and hugged. When we pulled apart, I looked in his eyes. They were a mix between red and gold, like my mom's eyes in my early memories.

"I have to caution you, Benjamin, we have a human here with us right now."

He looked at Shelley quizzically. "Ah. I do smell her." I swallowed nervously, but at the same time I knew we could trust him. He saw my worry and the protective stance the others had taken up in front of her. He smiled reassuringly. "Please don't worry, friends. I have just fed. On bear, believe it or not! I have been practicing. You all inspired me when last we met. In fact, that's why I'm here."

We relaxed. "You're a vegetarian now?"

"It's difficult, and I'm not yet perfect. But I'm trying."

"That's wonderful, Benjamin. I'm so happy to see you again. Please, come inside."

We walked back to the others. Jacob wrinkled his nose as we approached, but I could tell he remembered and trusted Benjamin and was trying to act friendly. I took his hand.

After Benjamin greeted my parents, I said, "Benjamin, this is Shelley, my friend. Actually, she's more than my friend now. Believe it or not, we recently found out that she's my..." what I was about to say felt so strange.

"You aunt." Finished Shelley. I made a weird face, but everyone else laughed.

Benjamin didn't know how to react. Mom put her arm around Shelley. "It's true, Benjamin. My long lost sister."

Benjamin shook his head and smiled. "Well, well. It's always something with you Cullens." He extended a hand. Shelley placed hers in his and he kissed it. "A pleasure to meet you."

"You as well." They held each other's eyes for a moment, then Shelley blushed and looked away quickly.

We led Benjamin into the house. While he reunited with Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and Rosalie, I explained the extent of his abilities to Shelley and how he was one of the most talented of all of us. I also explained the very particular creamy red color of his eyes and how it meant he must have had a mixed diet of late. She couldn't seem to look away from him.

"He's very... beautiful, isn't he? I mean you all are, but there's something about him. Where is he from?"

"Egypt."

We tuned back in to hear Benjamin explaining the story of how he ended up here today. After the encounter with the Volturi so many years ago, he and Tia had separated from Amun and Kebi. They had realized their differences from the older vampires. Amun had kept so much of the world from Benjamin, and after having a taste, he had yearned for more. Over the years, he and Tia had explored almost the entire planet. The more Benjamin learned about humans, the more fascinated he became. Eventually he began to develop a guilt that he had never experienced before when he thought about the human lives he was responsible for ending. It wasn't enough to change him though, and he still had no understanding of how the Cullens could actually survive off of putrid animal blood.

He paused, not wanting to tell the next part of his story. Dad's face looked pained as he saw something in Benjamin's mind.

Benjamin sighed and began. "A few years ago, after checking off every country and even Antarctica, Tia developed a sudden desire to visit our homeland. I didn't like the idea, as I viewed Cairo as more of a prison, but I also could never deny her anything. We went unnoticed for a few days, and I could feel Tia's delight in the sun and the sand and the people who had raised us. I was beginning to let my guard down, when Amun picked up our trail and approached us one night."