*Annabell's POV

    I took Emmett on because I was angry. What better way is there to blow off some steam, than to spar with a huge vampire? Once we started though, I found myself having fun. I missed moving freely around so much since the attack which got me restricted by the cast. Jasper helped me walk around the house to stretch my healthy leg every day but that wasn't enough.

    Em obviously didn't take me seriously. To cut him some slack, all he saw before him was a human girl. A blind human girl at that. It changed when I showed him that he should not underestimate me as I evaded his first attack and struck back. I put the power, similar to my defensive shield, preventing me from damaging my own hand and giving a bigger punch in the process, into my counterattack.

    After that, the fight started for real. I was savoring the feeling as the adrenalin spread through my body, sharpening my working senses and I kept dodging Emmett's advances with ease. I haven't experienced this since my training sessions with Chris and it felt amazing. Even though I missed about ten years of training I was already way stronger than back then. My power, although not used, seemed to have grown all these years along with me.

    I recalled what must have been Michaela’s memory I saw in the hospital. I wasn’t at my hundred percent now either but I had only one opponent and we didn’t fight to death. I knew Emmett stopped holding back, yet I was able to keep up with him as we continued to exchange blows.

    "What is this? It's like I can't touch you." Complained Emmett after I didn't manage to get out of the way of his fist a few times, but stopped it with my shield an inch away from my body. It took him quite a bit to notice and I laughed.

    "Her shield." I heard Jasper chuckle and I felt a wave of satisfaction wash over me, for he must have watched me really closely to figure it out from over there.

    I found a pattern in Emmett's attacks and knew the next hit would be with his right hand towards my chest. I had plenty of time to avoid it but I meant to keep my word and didn't move. Grabbing his arm before his fist touched me, I used the momentum of his attack to pull him towards me while sidestepping to the left and then I released his arm again. As he stumbled past me I landed a nice kick to his butt, sending him a little further away from me.

    Everyone laughed with me but I was a little disappointed to not hear a thud of his fall, meaning he withstood it. Smiling in challenge at him, I prepared myself for his comeback. "Oh, we're not done yet, little one.” He mocked me, not accepting a defeat yet. “You may have kicked my ass but the fight ain't over yet." ..."little one..." As if pulled into a different reality, Emmett's presence disappeared and got replaced by a red eyed monster biding his time, getting ready to strike.

    "You can't win like this, little one." He sneered as his eyes darted downward to my body. Subconsciously I placed one hand over my belly. I have to survive. Was my only thought as he came at me. Somehow he evaded my whip but couldn't get through my shield.

    "Angel, no!" I heard a dear voice call to me while the monster got away. The next thing I knew, was Jasper's touch as his faint light silhouette appeared, standing in front of me. My whip, tightly wrapped around his neck.

    "What...?" ...just happened? Terrified, shocked and utterly confused I felt my strength leave me and I fell into Jasper's arms, crying helplessly.

*Jasper's POV

    I carried still crying Annabell inside the house with worried Peter behind me and others followed us. Everyone was quite confused at what actually happened. "Annabell is a witch. Some rare kind of immortal human." Explained Rosalie to bewildered Esme and Emmett when we sat down in the living room again. "Is that correct?" She seeked confirmation.

    "Yes, those of her kind are called the Gifted. They possess natural powers and can kill vampires." I continued the explanation.

    "I'm so sorry Emmett, I didn't mean to..." Apologized Annabell, settling down a little bit. Turning to me with a pained expression. "I did-"

    "Shh... it's ok." I cooed, calming her. Caressing her cheek I kept her in my arms.

    "I'm still not sure what happened." Chuckled Emmett nervously. "Not that I'm not glad but if she can kill a vampire, how is Jasper alive?"

    "Her power can't kill her soulmate. What happened, angel? It looked like you were somewhere else." I tried to ask and she frowned thoughtfully.

    "I-I'm not sure..." Annabell lowered her head, thinking for a moment. "It was as if I got pulled into one of Michaela's memories... It happens quite often when I sleep but this was the first time it happened while I was awake." Annabell pulled my hand in hers and rested them on her lap.

    Then she looked like she realized something. "That man." Facing me now. "That vampire from my nightmare. It wasn't just a nightmare, he's from her past. Earlier, I saw that same man. I couldn't see him in the dream but his voice… I know it's him. He came after her alone and failed because Major was near but he returned with an army and killed Michaela before Major got to her. He had red eyes, tan skin, dark hair and was wearing a black cloak..." Black cloak and red eyes, huh? Of course, it was one of them. Crossed my mind.

    I sensed that she wanted to tell me something more but then she lowered her head again and hugged herself around the middle while snuggling into me a little more without saying anything. "So he was from Volturi." Appeared Carlisle in the door. "That doesn't surprise me." He commented and went to greet his mate.

    "Who's Volturi?" Asked Annabell curious.

    "I guess we didn't really talk about the vampire world much. Volturi are something of a royalty among vampires. They rule over our world and enforce the laws. Especially the one about keeping our existence a secret." I informed her.

    "A royalty..." Murmured Annabell in disbelief.

    "Yes." Carlisle spoke up again. " Shortly after I became a vampire, I joined them because unlike what I knew of vampires at the time, they seemed civilized. There are three kings, Aro, Caius and Marcus. They surround themselves with strong and talented vampires and those with the most lethal gifts are their royal guards." He explained to Annabell.

    "I wasn't really sure why they even let me join. I may be strong but I possess no special talent aside from my self control around human blood and compassion for people which, with the unlimited time as an unsleeping creature and with Volturi's endless libraries, led to me becoming a doctor.

    I didn't come to that decision completely on my own though. Aro called me Stregoni benifici meaning a good vampire, joking that I should learn to treat people's wounds, since I'm so against drinking their blood." He shook his head. "I did want to help people and with years and years of training I managed to turn my enhanced abilities into tools used to save lives rather than taking them.” A shadow seemed to darken his face.

    “However, later I learned that Aro didn't speak of that idea to me just by chance. He wanted a doctor for his own twisted means." Carlisle turned to look at Annabell in my embrace before he slowly continued. "Which takes us back to how I know the Gifted."

    "I still don't think you should hear this, angel..." I frowned but knew she wouldn't leave without hearing the whole story.

    "Please, continue." She told Carlisle while taking a hold of my hand again.

   "I kept hearing tales of a mysterious human kind that once lived somewhere in Northern Europe. Most of those that talked about it had it only for a legend that was supposed to keep them in line. It was said that there used to be a group of women wielding some strange power that could kill our kind and that together with their fearsome leader they did kill a lot of vampires before Volturi managed to eliminate them. I didn’t have it for much more than a legend myself… Until one day Aro brought me to a part of the castle I’ve never been to before.”

    Carlisle paused, looking at me, then Annabell and I could see him considering how much he should say, hoping he’d leave a few crucial details out. For I was certain about what conclusion Annabell would come to and I was also painfully aware that nobody nor the fact she wasn’t prepared could stop her from making it a reality.

    “There was a big room equipped like a hospital and Aro told me that the legend I heard was real and that he ‘saved’ some of the Gifted to study them and find a way to use their power for our benefit. To do that he conducted various experiments. He also told me that they are immortal and seem to never get sick. Aro admitted that he lost a few of them to said experiments and that he wants me to help him take care of them to prevent further losses.”

    Shaking his head, Carlisle continued. “Aro told me that he learned that these women seem to be very tempting and nearly irresistible to unmated male vampires so he had mostly female guards around them but that he trusts me with them for my self control and compassion.”

    Carlisle sighed, slowly walking towards the half glass wall and looking somewhere into the distance, feeling deep regret and shame, he went on. “I was confused at first but wanted to learn more myself. As the time went by, I kept treating their wounds and the longer I spent with them the more they opened up to me and I learned how exactly they got there and how they are treated, for I have never been a witness to these experiments. Aro was aware I would not approve of them if I knew the truth. When I found out, I argued with Aro about it a lot, however there was nothing more I could do for them. Unable to truly help them, I grew depressed and eventually left Volturi altogether.

    Ashamed of myself I traveled and treated wounded and ill around the world in an attempt to redeem myself for abandoning those women, leaving them to their fate. That is how I found Edward. I was lonely on my travels and his mother on deathbed begged me to save her son. And thus I gained the first member of my new family. Later after meeting Esme for the first time I was reunited with her again and I couldn’t let her die.”

    He turned back to the room and Esme gently darted into her mate’s arms. “You are a good man, darling. You have nothing to be ashamed of.” She smiled at him and Carlisle kissed her.

    “So there is a chance they are still alive?” Asked Annabell. I was grateful that Carlisle kept the worst parts from her. However, my mate was smart and sooner or later she’d learn the rest. Which left me with nothing but a wish that it would be later, rather than sooner.

    Carlisle met my eyes and I wasn’t sure what he saw in them but he said just “I’m really sorry, Annabell, but I doubt they survived to this day.” Annabell didn’t have more questions and quietly hung her head low again. Gently tightening my arms around her I made sure she knows that she is not alone.

    “It’s getting late. Let’s go home, angel.” I kissed her temple and she nodded.