tongue twister • paul lahote

vi

J A C O B S  S C R E A M I N G  W A S the only thing you could hear on the battlefield. Edward, Bella, and Santana had rejoined the group. Santana stayed back in the trees, afraid to move forward. In fear of the Voltouri arriving, the werewolves cleared out, going back to Billy's house to take care of Jacob. Once the wolves left, Edward ushered Santana out of the woods. The docile vampire family turned to the woods to face the surprise Edward had found. As Santana let herself appear in the foggy ground, the family let out a gasp. She was beautiful, her pale skin sparkled and her fawn coloured hair framed her face. Her red eyes glowed, her pink lips parted slightly. She was familiar, but completely different than the girl they knew before.

Her small body stood out strong, clad in black clothing. She looked timid, all of her previous confidence as dead as her creator. "Santana?" Carlisle spoke softly. Her eyes darted to the faces in the crowd. They all looked familiar to her in some way, but her knowledge of her human life was depleted. All she knew was what happened after she was changed. "Do you know who we are?" He spoke again, and she shook her head. Carlisle looked at his son.

"She was with Victoria when they came to attack us." Edward explained. Carlisle understood, and ordered Emmett to take her back to their house. She wouldn't be safe when the Voultori figured out where she came from.

Emmett led Santana back to the Cullen house. It was dark and empty, Emmett had a hard time connecting with the estranged girl. She was dull, she wouldn't even respond to Emmett's words. She was void of feeling at the moment, and would be for a while. Sometimes, in cases where newborns were close to their creators, it was hard for them to mourn the loss of them. It's much like losing a parent, or a best friend. Newborns can create strong bonds between themselves and their makers.

When the Cullens returned to their home, they were faced with Emmett staring at Santana from across the room, while she sat on the couch. Carlisle and Edward moved across the living space carefully, and sat across from the woman. Her eardrums twinged at the forests sounds. It smelled so different than her usual surroundings. It's scent held something clean, polished. It was truly a home here. The smell of dog casted the air outside of the home, the open windows intensifying it. The smell was strong, but comforting to her. She didn't know why.

Carlisle moved his mouth to speak, but he didn't know what to say. Santana searched his face for emotion. There was too many to understand. "I'm Carlisle." He said gently. The name was familiar to her, even more than his face was. "This is my family, Esme, Edward, Emmett..." he let his voice trail. She watched him intently, studying him.

"Why did you bring me here?" She questioned. Her fingers caressed the rough denim on her jeans. She was nervous. For the first time since her change she actually feared another being.

"We knew you... before you changed. You were close with this family." Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. No way could she have been associated with these people. They were odd, even for her kind. "Often times vampires don't remember their lives before the change. It's blocked out. Some do, it may come with time." He explained. Her nose twitched. "You went to Forks high, you met the love of your life. You were best friends with Jacob Black."

Her face soured at the though of the name. It rubbed her wrong, it unsettled her. Again, she didn't know why. These names, these things he was telling her, she wanted to remember them. They brought back twinges of memories but they still confused her. "This Jacob..." she started. "You said we were best friends. What happened?" Carlisle's glance shifted from her to his son.

"You had a falling out, you decided it would be best to not be friends with him anymore." He drifted around the subject like he was avoiding something. She let it go. "It was better for you." He said in a finalizing tone. "There were people in your past you didn't get along with. Maybe, when you see them the second time things will change. You can move on." He offered. She nodded gently.

"Paul. I know the name. I know it and I want to remember it so bad. He sounds like someone I want to know." She started to speak louder, more comfortably.

"You certainly would, we can take you to see him, he's outside." He told her. She nodded again.

"Not yet."

"That's alright too, you don't gave to rush things."

"Victoria said I had to hate you people. She wanted me to help her destroy you." She explained.

"And that is a flaw in her character, not yours. You can't help what you are taught." He already forgave her. "We want to offer you a spot in this family. We want you to be one of us. I know it's a lot to deal with right now, but we can help you." She thought for a minute.

"But you're not like me. Your eyes... they're different. You're not aggressive. You're gentle. We are different." She argued.

"We are, and we are the same as well. You can be like us. It takes work, but I believe you want something bigger than what you have right now." She understood his intent, he had a point.

"What do I have to do?" She finally answered him.

"Change your diet. That's it. Once you do, everything becomes easier. The compassion comes with age." She listened carefully. "You have to stop drinking human blood. You'll change your diet to animal blood and you can be a part of our family. We believe we co-exist with humans not to destroy them, but to grow and adapt to their styles of living. They outnumber us, so we bend to their rules. We have a treaty with the werewolves to live on this land. As long as we don't bite a human, we can live here in peace."

She was disgusted at the initial thought, but bargained. "But I already have bit a human." She stated.

"We all have, but that doesn't mean you can't change." She nodded. She was willing to try to be a part of this family. They seemed in tune with each other. Like what she had with Victoria.

"So... this Paul. Can I meet him?"