Paul's POV

"This is her house?" Jared asked when we reached the door. There seemed to be no moving trucks around which is a great sign.

"Yep," I whispered knocking on the door. I heard footsteps come down the stairs from the other side of the door. The door was opened by Carly. Her eyes widened at the sight of us.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm Jared, this is Paul. Is your sister home?" He asked politely.

"She's not, can I take a message?" She asked playing with the hem of her tee shirt nervously.

"Nah, but thanks anyways…"

"Carly, my name's Carly," I could have told him that. But that would be weird since she ahs probably never seen me before. I have seen her many times with my stalking sessions with Nicky.

"Thanks Carly, oh wait. Do you mind if we ask were Nicky is?" Jared cooed.

She looked hesitant, "I better not. I'm sorry. If you see my mum- could you not tell her I skipped school?" She said stressed. I smirked, I use to be like that once, caring what mum thinks. Not anymore. The only person who I care about what they think is… you guessed it, Nicky.

"Sure sweetie, I'll see you later," Jared said ruffling her hair. I gave him a funny look-

"Wait!" I almost shouted at her. She flinched back at my tone.

"Ah, sorry. But are you moving?" I almost forgot to ask. It was pretty much the whole point in coming here.

"I… I don't know. Nicky wants too, but I don't. I like it here," She smiled.

"Nicky wants to move?" My heart sinking in my chest. It's because of me I bet. Jared gave me a sympathetic look.

"Yeah. She pretends to hate this place, but I know better," She said with a knowing smile.

"Hey Carly, you don't mind letting us in? We just want to talk," Jared said giving me a subtle wink. She looked hesitant, "Mum says I should never let strangers in the house,"

"But Carly we got to your school. And we're really good friends with Nicky- well I am." I growled lowly at Jared.

"Um… sure then yeah I guess it's ok," She shrugged opening the door wider for us.

SUCCESS!

Remind me to thank Jared later; I couldn't have done this without him.

After Carly offered us coffee we all got settled onto the dining room table. I decided to break the silence.

"So Carly, tell me about Nicky," I tried to sound casual. Jared snorted and I gave him a glare.

"She's my sister?" She said like it was a question.

"Yeah I know, tell me more. I want to know everything!" I demanded

"Everything?" Carly shifted awkwardly in her seat.

"Everything."

Carly's POV

I didn't know what to do, I couldn't tell them everything- it would be like a repeat of what happened in California and mum and Nicole would not be happy with me if I stuff this up again.

So I told them everything apart from the whole 'mythical' side. I excluded the parts about dad and just told them basic things, like Nicky's favourite colour, movie, band and so on.

I noticed how interested Paul seemed to be, Jared kind of dozed off but Paul really wanted to know every detail about Nicky.

I didn't know if it was cute or suspicious but I stayed clear of the subject of Nicky's humanity.

Well far away from that topic.

Paul and Jared looked familiar, and they were both really handsome but there was something off about them. I didn't know if it was because Nicky had told me if I was suspicious of someone it's probably because they were a 'demon.' But they looked nothing like a vampire.

Almost like the opposite. Vampires were cold and pale and these two guys sitting in front of me were hot and tanned. Not that I'm complaining.

Jared seemed way nicer then Paul but for some reason I felt safe around them… protected.

Nicky's POV

"So I'm assuming you came to me for help?" Doctor Cullen presumed.

"Yeah- I do. It's about the Seattle murders, you've heard about them right?" I asked with my eyebrows raised.

He looked surprised at first and then relaxed, "Of course I have. My family and I with help of a few friends are trying to …resolve the problem at hand,"

"Me too! It's vampires. It's like an army," I put in. He nodded in agreement.

"An army of new born vampires. And we recently found out what they are looking for," He said with a grace expression.

"And that would be?" I trailed off.

"Who, actually. It's a girl by the name of Isabella Swan-"

"Isabella Swan… like Bella?" I said, I've heard the name a couple times from Jacob.

He nodded solemnly, "That is correct,"

"Oh my God- does she know? That they're after her, or about vampires?" I asked in a rush.

"Yes- she knows. She knows more then most humans about vampires, she err… wants to…" He stopped talking and coughed awkwardly. "Yes, well it would be an honour for you to join us in fighting. But please know I am not trying to force you into this. This could end up very dangerous and I don't want to see anyone get hurt,"

"Count me in." I said without a second thought.

"You really want to help us? I don't even know if you would be able to withstand a few- you're only a child,"

"I think I will be fine," I said cockily, I don't think. I know.

"Thank you," he said sincerely after a few moments of scepticism.

"Hey- I should be thank you. I came to you for help," I responded.

"The more the merrier I suppose," He sighed.

"This is going to be so much fun!" I squealed like a little school girl at a Justin Bieber concert.

"You sound just like Emmet," He said with a proud smile.

I smiled back- I was still a bit sceptic about siding with vampires but hey- I do get to kick some leeches ass.

"So what exactly are you? If you don't mind me asking," He said sheepishly. I was surprised he hadn't figured it out.

"A mermaid," I said a bit embarrassed. It sounds so… stupid. A mermaid. Pfft, they sound so innocent. If people only knew before they wrote fairytales about them being so peaceful.

"A mermaid? I didn't realise they were still around…" He pondered walking around his room in thought.

"You believe me?" I had a presumption that he would laugh at me. And asked if he was getting punk'd.

"Of course, you do know of the Volturi?"

"The what?

"I'll take that as a no. They are almost like a royal family. They are the rule makers and punish rule breakers. They are harsh and unkind. They use to send out vampires to destroy were-wolves and mermaids like yourself. I thought mermaids were whipped out years back."

"Wiped out? Were-wolves?" all these words were running through my head. How did I not know of this? It seems like critical information.

"Yes, I'm surprised you don't know. Aro- the head of the Volturi is terrified of were-wolves and he was not fond of mermaids since they were strong and could easily kill a vampire and still blend in with society. It's remarkable really that I am staring at one right now," He was talking quietly at the end of it and looked at me as if I were some sort of sculpture in a museum. It made me feel uncomfortable.

"How do you know all this? Is it in some kind of 'Vampire's for dummy' manual? You know, vampire 101?" I laughed at my joke… I'm so funny it hurts.

"Not exactly… I use to be one," He mumbled.

"Be one? Be a vampire? I thought you already were one,"

"No, Nicole. I mean I use to be part of the Volturi," He looked up at me with a small shrug.

I didn't know what to say…

"Ok," I said in a tiny voice. Does this mean he has killed my people? My ancestors… my family?

"I swear I on my life I wasn't involved with the mermaid massacre. It was long before I was turned that they had executed your kind. I am deeply sorry and wish I could have stopped them," He sounded so sincere.

"It's ok…" I managed to say.

"It's not your fault. We'll just have to kill those assholes huh?" I said seriously.

"Nicky, no matter how much confidence you have," He walked up to me and put a cold hand on my shoulder, "You must never face the Volturi. They may seem easy to beat but I assure you they have gifts. Gifts that could end your life so easily,"

I nodded I know about vampires and there gifts.

"So what now?" I asked changing the subject. It was getting too emotional around here. And there's one thing I don't deal with- it's feelings.

"Well you could come and meet my family? Or you could come over the day of the war. Alice- you know the one I told you about that could see into the future," I nodded my head, "Yes well she tells us that it will be one week from today. Will you be ready by then? Because you can learn a few tricks from my family. They know how to take down newborns,"

I shook my head, "I'll be fine. I'll come over to your place next Monday morning. Don't worry, I'll be ready,"

And I was serious, it's what I have been waiting for.