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introductions:
Renessme and Jacob got Married when nessie was ten years old.
3 years later they had Twin girls Josie (Joe-sea) and susie. they grew faster than human children did, but far slower than their mother had, reaching full growth at about 15 years old.
it turned out, much to carlile’s facination,that the genetics of crossbreeding humans with vampires was not predictable or perhaps the unpredictability came from the infusion of quilete genes. in any case the results of his many tests facinated
the doctor .
Renesmee carcilse had discovered, possessed 24 chromesone pairs like Jacob and more detailed study concluded that genetically she was an even split 50%. human 50% vampire Jacob, although he considered himself human, was genetically almost as different from a non-wolf human as a vampire.
carlilse had expected to find that the twins were 50%. wolf and 25% each human and vampire but he was wrong.
Susie had Renesme's brown hair and Jacob's copper skin which did not react at all to even the briglest sunlight. at 10 years old, which carliLse determined to be equivalent to about 17 developmentaly, she shifted for the first time and Joined the pack.
genetically she was 80% wolf and 20% vampire, carlilse theorised that the wolf genes had converted the human ones much as it a wolf had mated with a full human.
Josie was her sisters opposite pale as snow but with Jacob's silky jet black hair. her skin Shone in the sun brighter than her mothers, tho not quite as bright as the full vampires. genetically she was 85% vampire and 15% wolf. Carlile had no ideas on Why the vampire genes had dominated so much.
our story begins when the twins are 16 years old and Renesmee 29
Renesmee walked into the lounge and adressed her daughter who was sat reading in a chair
"Josie your eyes are getting very dark again. you leave it too long between hunting trips. Why don’t we go out together this afternoon" Renesnee sugested
"I’m okay mom I don’t want to go hunting." Josie replied
"Honey it can’t be plesant for you go so long between hunts. "Why won’t you go"
"You know why."
"Josie We’ve been having the same argument for years. Do you really want to have it again." Renesmee sighed .
"I had human blood as a baby. So did susie. So did you." Josie persisted stubornly
"I stopped having human blood when I was old enough to hunt for myself. Just like you and susie." Renesmee tried to keep
the note of irritation out of her voice and off of her face. she was tired of this debate.
"I've talked to Gran about it. She tells me you didn’t like hunting animals either. That you used to do anything to get out of it and have the don.ated b. lood instead." she glared at her
mother,
"That’s true. But I grew out of it. by the time I was a year old I was developed enough to understand why carlilse couldn’t keep sourcing donated blood, Sooner or later someone would have got suspicious. You know this. It’s the same reason why he couldn’t keep sourcing human blood for you and your sister."
Josie glared some more then deflated. usually this was where she would stomp off but this time she stayed and said quietly
"That’s not the point. That’s never been the point."
Renesmee, who had been expecting the usual depature turned at these words.
"Then why not tell me the point." she paused then continued beseechingly "We can’t go in circles like this forever. If you’ve got something that you’ve never told me, some reason why you keep this debate going then please tell me." Josie looked at her mother for several minutes deciding wether to tell what was really bothering her. Their voices had risen steadily throughout the conversation before the quiet of the last exchange and although they had not been shouting both were well aware that the entire family could hear and was likely listening and considering wether to step in. as one or other of them had many times before. finaly Josie spoke
"Carlilse might have told you very good reasons why you had to stop having human blood but you still agreed. You were alright with it. You chose to accept his point of view and his way of hunting."
"What do you mean," Renesmee sounded confused "this family hunts animals. Feeds on animal blood that’s the way it is."
"It might be the way it is." Josie explained, her voice begging to rise in volume and intensity. "But the fact still remains that every single one of you had a choice. Esme, Rosalie, emmett, Bella, they all chose to follow carlilse's example when they were created. Alice and Jasper chose to join the family and chose to hunt the same way. you chose to accept carlilses explanations and start hunting animals willingly. susie chose to live off human food and not have blood at all. Edward made a different choice for a while and was allowed that, then he chose to live carlilse's way.”
Josie was shouting now
“But not me. One day carlilse just stopped bringing home the human blood and you told me that if I wanted to eat I had to go hunting the Way the rest of you do, there was no choice in that. That’s my point. That’s my problem. That’s why I wait till I'm Nearly starving before I hunt. Because living this way was forced on me. You all chose it. I didn’t get a choice.”
"And what choice is it that you want daughter,” Jacob spoke from the kitchen doorway Josie whirled to face him .
“That’s the biggest problem of all." She yelled throwing up her hands
"I don’t even know”Josie turned away from them both and swept out off the front door breaking into a run as she crossed the threshold.
Renesme was left standing shocked and nearly crying by the back window. Jacob came up to her a.nd wrapped his arm round her shoulder. she turned and burried her head into his chest
“I thought she was just being awkward". she spoke without lifting her head "I never knew she was so unhappy with our diet”
“None of us did,"Jacob replied soothingly "she hid it from all of us”
“Where d.o you think she’s. gone. You don’t think she’s left us do you” the fear in Renesme's face was plain.
“I expect she just needs some time to cool off and collect herself” Jacob replied hugging his wife close.
“Dad, Alice ” renesme called strangtening up and turning. moments later Edward and Alice appeared from upstairs.
“I assume you heard all that." nessie observed "Could you get any sort of read on her at all. do either of you have a clue where she’s going.”
They both shook their heads. “She shrouded herself as soon as the argument began. Sorry” said Alice
"It’s alright I expected as much"
Just then Renesme's phone buzzed, she looked at the text quickly it was from Josie.
I’m sorry we fought again mom. I’m heading into the Forrest for a bit but I’ll be home before the end of the day, love you, Josie ”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Edward and Jasper were play fighting in the garden, Emmett, susie and jasper were preparing dinner in the kitchen, Rosalie, Bella, Alice, renesme, and Esme were watching a chick flick in the lounge. They all heard as carlilses car drove past the front of the house and into the garage. A few minutes later carlilse walked in the front door but before he could greet anyone the girls all noticed his worried expression. Esme flitted to his side.
“What’s the matter”
“can we all talk in the lounge a minute, he said loudly enough to be sure everyone in the house would be able to hear.”
Everyone gathered In The seating area.
“What’s going on” asked emmett
“Where’s Jose asked carlilse ignoring emmett and glancing around.
“Out in the Forrest” replied Nessie.
Carlisle sighed. She’s quite a puzzle that one, but right now we’ve got bigger problem.
“What is it? demanded rose
“There appears the be a nomad in the area,” carlilse replied looking harrassed. “Alice have you seen anything”
“No nothing. And I usually see if anyone new comes near, I watch the perimeter carefully”
“I’m not accusing you of being negligent” soothed carlilse.
“Why do you think there’s a nomad in town” queried jasper, his face buisnesslike. the strategising of family defence was his responsibility.
“The coroner called me in for a second opinion this afternoon, a body had just been brought in, someone spotted it in the nature reserve. it was in the river tangled in weeds just past the rapids. The coroner knew him, well knew of him. He was An old hermit, lived alone by the river. the coroner couldn’t find any sign of foul play but something seemed off to him. I told him it was a heart atack But I knew right away what had caught his attention. The man had no blood. I convinced the coroner not to do an autopsy but it was a close run thing”Carlisle ignored the worried glances that passed between the members of his family and carried on talking
“The river had washed away any lingering scent but the hermit has clearly been killed by a vampire, . And one that either dosent care, or hasn’t been taught, to conceal their kills.”
Nessie was now looking between Jacob and her parents. A horrified expression on her face. She and Bella reached for each other automatically the way they always had when Nessie wanted to communicate, Bella received a flood of tanged thoughts from her daughter, Bella was silent as she tried to process all she has received, Nessie dropped her hand to her lap as she found her voice.
“You don’t think, it couldn’t be, please tell me it couldn’t be,”
Jacob caught up with the direction of her thoughts quickly and wrapped a protective arm round her waist as if trying to sheild her from the possibility
“I’m sure it’s not, she wouldn’t,” he turned to Edward “would she”
“She’s capable of it” interjected Emmet “we are all capable of it”
Nessie looked beseechingly at her father reaching out to touch his hand sharing with him the thoughts and emotions she couldn’t find words for
“She’s been hiding her thoughts more and more recently. I honestly don’t know what had been going on in her head”Nessie turned to Alice
“She hasn’t been planning it before today. but you know how fast a persons path can change”
Esme reached across the coffe table and put a gentle hand on one of Nessie’s. She spoke softly, as if trying to soften the blow of her words.
“After what happened this morning I think we have to face the fact that it’s a possibility. The thoughts and feelings she admitted to. They could have lead her to this even if she didn’t realise the path she was on at the time”
“I think someone needs to bring me up to speed” carlilse interrupted. Nessie turned and placed a hand on carlilses cheek showing him the events of the morning followed by an echo of Alice saying she hadn’t seen a visitor to the area.
“You suspect the hermit might have been the work of Jose?”Nessie nodded“well that certainly is a troubling proposition”
“What do we do” Nessie asked him sitently her hand stil on his face
“We wait till she comes home, and if it was her we hear her out, then we go from there,”
Nessie was still to distressed to speak. Jacobs hand was still on her arm and she pushed her thoughts into his mind this time.
“What about the tribe. The pack. The treaty. What will happen to her, to us all,”
“The treaty was defunct the moment I imprinted on you.” Jacob reassured her “we are one family. but beyond that I honestly don’t know. This is something none of us ever considered”
“Sitting here worrying won’t achieve anything” Esme said pragmatically “I’m gong to finish making dinner, Jacob susie you need to eat. The rest of you just carry one as normal and when Jose gets home if anything needs addressing we will address it then, she stood and walked determinedly into the kitchen,
It was late in the evening when the front door opened.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Josie walked in already speaking. her voice was soft but loud enough to be heard throughout the house.
"Garret, Alistair, Amun, Kebi, benjamin, Tia, sibohan, liam, Maggie,"
she listed the names tonelessly. as if she were reading from a paper.
"My friends" acknowledged, Carlisle, setting down the book he had been reading, and rising from the armchair.
Josie kept reciting;
"Zafrina, Senna, Kachiri,"
"my friends" added alice from the bottom of the stairs.
”Mary, Peter, charlotte, Charles, Mackenna.”
"my friends" agreed Jasper, from beside alice.
"they are all friends with us all” said esme Rising from the sofa and approaching her great grandaughter
"you love them" asked josie.
"yes" agreed bella standing beside the piano, looking confused
"you accept them as they are" insisted Josie
"yes" confirmed Edward sitting backwards on the piano stool, who had are idea where this was headed. "then why do I suspect that you will struggle to accept me" she looked up at last. eyes which had been black as coal when she left now Gleamed scarlet.
everyone was silent for a moment then emmett spoke from the kitchen doorway
"she makes a good point." he stated "this morning and now. all of these friends have a traditional diet and we dont shun them. we know we are unusual in our choice. why shouldnt Josie make a different choice."
"but they dont live here" pointed out carlilse
"and when they visit they dont hunt in the area" added bella who had never quite come to terms with their friends diet
"and they never stay for long" observed Jacob who was looking pale even scared. “and the pack doesn't accept any of them” he added “the old boundaries still apply to all of them”
“do they apply to me now father" Josie asked sadly
"I dont know" admitted Jacob.
she turned to carlilse
"is that the caveat then? you will accept a traditional vampire as a friend but not as a member within this family. I bow to your way or I leave. is that my real choice" her voice was defiant but the undercurrent of hurt was obvious.
"when Jasper and I arrived we already knew Of and had adopted your diet. but what if we ha'd not or what if we found it didnt suit us would you have turned us away!" alice came suddenly to Josie‘s defence.
"and me" Edward Joined in. "those years when I left your coven, if I had wanted to return but keep the diet would you have let me?"
Carlilse looked blindsided, and in a way he had been. He was being forced to confront scenarios that he had never imagined. He was silent for several minutes and in those minutes he looked in turn at each member of his coven. Of his family. Finally he turned to Edward and Alice who were now flanking josie.
"no alice I Wouldnt have turned you away" he admitted. "and Edward" I would have welcomed you back with open arms
whatever you wanted to eat" .
he turned to Josie.
"this has all come as quite a shock, but of course you wont be evicted from this family, that could never happen. And you are of course free to make your own choice on your diet” he paused seeming to consider his phrasing “but we will need to discuss this further as a traditional diet comes with a different set of rules for all of our kind, rules you never learnt.-
Josie looked relived and was now being held close by her mother and sister. Renesme had her palm against her daughter’s cheek and Josie’s face suggested that the young vampire was receiving a ticking off of some sort from her mother.
"my concern" murmered edward glancing fondly and protectively at his daughter and g'randdaughters, "is not your choice of diet but our location. the packs have never accepted our red eyed friends and this cant be hidden. "he turned to Jacob" What say you Jacob? can a traditional vampire live near the pack or must the family leave. and if we leave where will you and Renesmee be?”
Jacob had been deep in thought. he turned to Josie his face set And determined.
"you are my child and a member of my tribe.” He said with conviction “tribe land is and will always be your home we all remain here!
i hope to be able to Convince the tribe to accept your choice, but if I cannot, I can and will order the wolves to neither harm nor harass you."
Josie nodded tearfully and ran into her fathers open arms.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
That Evening Carlisle asked Josie to join him in the study for a discussion, when she walked in she found that carlisle wasn’t alone, Edward and jasper were also there. Carlisle was sat in the large high backed armchair by the fire, Jasper was sat in the other the opposite side of the fireplace and Edward was sat on the small sofa facing them. Josie looked apprehensive but when Carlisle indicated for her to join them she complied.Is something the matter?” She asked Carlisle “why the committee”“We need to have a serious talk,” explained jasper, “as Carlisle referenced earlier hunting humans comes with a different set of rues to hunting animals. if you are truly serious about choosing this diet you need to learn them.”Josie nodded still looking aprehensive.“There’s no Need to worry great granddaughter” Carlisle reassured and smiled, Josie returned the smile tentatively, it was her and Carlisle’s inside joke that he was effectively a great grandfather whilst looking less than twenty five and the proof that their camaraderie was intact went a long way to reassure the young hybrid.“So,” Josie made a brave attempt at her usual tunes, “tell me about these rules greatgrandfaher, what is the big difference”“There are three main rules that are different. Kill selection, kill density, and kill disposal,” Carlisle winced slightly each time he said kill. “I know the theory, but i have no real world practice of hunting humans, that is why i have asked Edward and Jasper to be here, they are the only members of the family wh have hunted humans by choice.Edward straightened slightly beside Josie and angled his body to face her. “we are going to take this one subject at a time and explain how human hunting is different to animal hunting. First kill disposal as it is the most important, We leave our animal kills where we find them for two reasons, firstly because other animals will eat the carcass and so that way nothing is wasted, and second because it is not necessary to do anything further, if a human were to find it they would assume it had been killed by another animal or died from disease, but they would have no cause to investigate.”“That isn’t the case with humans” added Carlisle “if a human body is found it is collected and examined, the cause of death is looked for, an exanguinated human corpse raises suspricions,”“Like the hermit in the river” Josie observed sheepishly“Yes” Carlisle nodded “like the hermit in the river, beyond the water washing away your scent, there was no consideration of concealment in that disposal.“Sorry”“You dont need to apologise, you didnt know any better, that is why you need to be taught”Josie nodded soberly.“Kill density and kill selection are also vital” continued jasper capturing the attention of the room.“, we address kill density in animals” interrupted josie “not over hunting any one species so as not to jeopardise their population numbers in the area”.”yes” said jasper “but the importance of kill density in relation to humans is for a different reason, we need to be careful not to arouse suspicion, we dont want the humans to start making connections between the deaths and begin looking for a singular source.”that makes sense” observed Josie “so logically kill selection is for the same reason, to avoid suspicion from the humans.“Exactly” praised jasper “you want to choose humans that are the least likely to be missed,”“right,” said carlilse “ now let’s look at how we put all of that into practice, do you have any thoughts about kill density in practise?”“Sort of, I suppose nomads solve it by moving on between hunts”“Yes exactly” nodded Edward “that is precisely how i used to live when i separated from Carlisle. I would hunt a maximum of twice in any one place then move on. Also putting enough distance between hunts that no human could have traveled that far that fast and stayed off the grid is also a good way to cover”“That makes sense, but what about me, i dont move around”“the solution for a sedentary vampire is simple enough” explained Jasper, i used to have one home base so i didnt have the luxury of simply moving on. Can you work out what the solution is?”“‘no I do think so”“ you just need to cultivate a wide hunting area, and alternate locations randomly”“oh. That is quite simple”Jasper and Edward were explaining all this very clinically but Josie noticed that Carlisle was looking Uncomfortable.“So as for kill selection you said to look for people who are least likely to be missed”“That sounds simple enough, although how do you identify who won’t be missed?”“It can be simple, but it can also be multifaceted, it depends on how much effort you want to put into your selection” Edward explained“You’ve lost me”.“Well if you just want to go out and find a quick meal you can, a homeless person or a runaway is a pretty safe pick, and easily enough found in any large town or city.” Clarified edward“ The trouble with choosing people like that is that they are often substance abusers and that taints the blood.” Added Jasper “vampires who mostly feed on that type of people can solve that hurdle because with practice you can learn to tell if a person is riddled with drugs or alcohol by smell.”“Like you can” Josie said turning to Carlisle“yes i can” he confirmed “although i use my skills to save”Jasper ignored the comment and continued.“As edward said that is a way to find a quick meal, and many nomads and city vampires mainly hunt such people but If you want to put a bit more effort in you can find a far better Quallity of blood.”“How” asked Josie eagerly .In his chair Carlisle was looking pained at the direction the conversation had taken.“someone who works or lives in a remote place is a good choice, most of the time they take care of themselves, keep healthy. Hikers and lone tourists out in the woods. Basically what you want to look for is People who live well but could easily disappear without trace without it being the default assumption that another person was involved.”“So I actually made quite a good pick with the hermit”“Yes you did” Carlisle acknowledged “it was the disposal where you failed”“Disposal is the most important factor” Edward explained“There are lots of good methods, but in general the aim is to ensure that the body is not found intact,”“In an urban area burning is the simplest” explained Edwaird “you want them burned beyond the point that exanguination can be identified, but it can still raise some suspicions, if you are in an area with a lot of Gang activity learn the disposal methods and locations of the various gangs and imitate them perfectly.”“But be sure To also obscure the wounds you make and to replicate the modus operandi of the gang.” Added Jasper“Sibiohan has a more unusual disposal method for her coven, in as much as it involves an uncommon familiarity Witht he human world, but it is incredibly effective,” offered Carlisle“What do they do” asked Josie“They break into mortuaries and slip their victims into active cremators.”“Thats genius” blurted Josie"they certainly thinkrs so" murmered carlisle"in wilderness areas like the olympic peninsula we have some more options" Jasper workedto recapture Josie attention,""like what""the simplest is to hide the body in a place no human can reach,”“ but if you take that option you need to consider dogs and helicopters," explained edward " a better option is to leave it somewhere obscurewith a populance of large predators but you should break it up first”“, when I lived in south america” Jasper added there were some vampires who had actively trained packs of coyotes or Parliaments of vultures to expect food at specific places, they did a very effective Job at disposal"“I bet they did” Josie laughed."you can of course take the overt route and fake an accident" eduard continued "but if You do that you must take care to eliminate evidence of your own attack""does all that make sense" asked Carlisle who was looking decidedly worse for the wear."yes it does" Josie hesitated "are you alright?”"I will be, that was a lot of information I didnt need to know, knowing your sons know all this is one thing but hearing about it is quite another""sorry carlisle'' Jasper murmered,"no need to apologise but I think im going to go find a good book, Josie if you needmore advice perhaps it would be best to speak to Jasper or Edward directly and leave me out of it""alright". Josie grinned