Surrender

"Stay," he insisted, his golden eyes pleading. I glared back stubbornly, heaving a sigh.

"No." I added, "I prefer constant vampiric wars – not cuddly families."

He looked at me closely, a knowing glint in his eyes. "I said the same thing once upon a time."

I wrinkled my nose in distaste, shaking my head. "I've been here with your irritating, broody 'brother' and his newborn, while you've been gallivanting around Brazil. I'd appreciate if you give me a few decades before I come back to this 'no hunting' zone."

Jasper just rolled his eyes. "Please, Ruby. Just another few weeks. It won't hurt."

I scoffed. "I'm not allowed to even kill a person without a werewolf barking at me."

Jasper's lit eyes dimmed slightly at my mention of killing people. I narrowed my eyes in response.

"Don't. You used to do exactly the same – just because you're a happy human-lover doesn't mean you can judge me."

He held his palms up slightly in surrender. "Just another few weeks," he repeated. "I haven't seen you in so long, and I've missed you. Alice is so excited to catch up with you, and it seems you've made quite an impression on Seth."

I scowled.

"You're a ghastly brother," I stated plainly. His lips stretched in a grin, unaffected.

"Just stay," he insisted persistently. I heaved a dramatic sigh, raising my shoulders with narrowed eyes.

"Fine," I allowed, "but in exactly ten days, I'm going back to Texas where I can rip off a hundred heads, because apparently that's not allowed here."

Jasper just chuckled heartily, and collected me in a light hug. "I've missed you, Rubes."

I just rolled my eyes.

"I can feel the mutt's jealousy," Jasper whispered gently in my ear, a teasing note in his voice. I scowled, and squeezed my arms around his torso until I heard a satisfying crunch, and a wounded cry from Jasper's lips. With a grin, I released him, and stepped back, waltzing from the room, into the attic.

Besides my tree, the attic had become my safe haven during my stay at the Cullens'. I usually occupied my tree branch when I was in a relatively good mood, and tentatively welcomed company – mainly Seth – whereas the attic was strictly off-limits. I liked to be alone when I was in the attic. Although the company of Alistair had been fine, he had fled before the confrontation with the Volturi, never bidding even a goodbye. It didn't bother me – I'd learnt enough over my century and a half to know it was understandable survival instincts. If I didn't have a stupid weasel of a brother, I wouldn't have been far behind Alistair, never glancing back.

I sat by the window sill of the attic, peering down at the backyard of the mansion. Zafrina offered words of goodbye to the Cullens before she followed her coven mate into the forest, heading back to their homeland in the Amazon. Peter and Charlotte had left a few hours ago, much like most of the other witnesses of the Volturi confrontation. I intended on leaving with them, but decided to spend a few more hours with my older brother before leaving to return to my southern home. Peter ribbed me about my momentary scene with Seth, and Charlotte gave me a hug, before they intertwined hands and disappeared.

After the Volturi's departure in the snowy clearing, Seth and the werewolves had stayed for several minutes, before they retreated, to go back to their native reservation. Seth gave my cheek a sloppy lick, before bounding after his pack.

The curious stares I earned from numerous of the vampires was unnerving, and as much as I should've been reprimanding myself for the scene I'd caused, I couldn't. It felt like I'd done the right thing, what my natural instincts told me to do. Protect Seth. Of course, that realisation had brought with it many questions, and I confused myself with the many different excuses I came up with, to satisfy my mind.

I couldn't understand at which point I'd gained protectiveness over Seth Clearwater. Most of our conversations consisted of my snapping at him, insulting him. He always came back though, for whatever reason. I found myself wondering what would've happened if he simply never attempted a bond with me, and that question made my body convulse. I didn't want to not have met Seth, I came to realise. I enjoyed Seth's company – his warmth such a contrast to what I'd always been around. He constantly held a smile, as if the wind had blown and frozen his expression in place.

What still held many of my thoughts, though, was Seattle. He'd tagged along stubbornly, for a reason unknown to me. I still couldn't understand why the kindest being I'd come across was insistent on watching me kill a human. But, although that had been my plan, he'd weaselled into the forefront of my thoughts when I was about I drink the last of the human's blood, and I'd stopped. I purposely left the human alive – an act I'd never committed in all my heartless, cold years as a vampire. It rattled me to my venomous core. Seth had an overwhelming if not terrifying ability to make me vulnerable, to make me question myself, and to make me feel guilty for being mean.

"Ruby!" I heard a soft shout from outside, in the yard. I peeked out the window, immediately recognising the muscled creature that was Seth Clearwater. Uncontrollably, a tiny smile drifted across my lips, and in a blink it was gone. I was becoming soft, I huffed inwardly.

I pushed open the attic window, and slid out, pouncing off the roof and landing gracefully before Seth. He grinned cheerfully at me.

"Hello!" He greeted, merrily.

"Evening," I drawled in return. His eyes were squinted by the large size of his smile.

"Do you wanna go to the diner with me for dinner?" He asked, his large eyes peering at me hopefully.

I blinked. "I don't eat," I stated. "I'm dead," I added unnecessary.

He winked, "it's not all about the food." In a swift sweep, he threw his arm over my shoulder and began leading me across the yard. I stiffened, shocked by the amount of physical contact. He was sweltering. The hotness of his russet skin felt blistering against mine, but in an odd, twisted way, it felt incredible. Carefully, I ducked from his grasp, the close contact too overwhelming. I attempted to mask the rejection of his touch, and tripped him over. His foot hooked beneath mine, and he flailed forwards, yelping in surprise. I gave a giggle, and bolted into the forest, waiting for the shape-shifter to catch up and lead us to our destination.

"What is this place?" I wondered aloud as we wandered through La Push. I involuntarily wrinkled my nose, the overpowering smell of the shape-shifters' territory wafting strongly up my nostrils. We were approaching the side of a quaint building, and I heard chatter and activity inside the walls.

"The diner," Seth answered. "Owned by Sue Clearwater, my mum." I gave a small smile, but inside I was surprised.

"Meeting the folks already, huh?" I jeered teasingly. Seth laughed, shaking his head.

"Well, just one," he replied. "My dad passed away a while ago…"

I looked up to Seth with wide eyes. Unbeknownst to me, the death of his father seemed more heartbreaking than the many deaths I'd caused with my own hands. "I'm sorry for your loss," I offered, and I meant it. He gazed at me with a soft smile, shooing away the dark memories that had crept into the front of his mind.

"Thank you." The subject was then left alone, and Seth held open the door of the diner for me. I gave him a glance of appreciation, and he mockingly gave a dramatic bow in return. I let out a soft laugh, curtsying briefly before entering the diner. It was cosy, not anything extravagant but it was homey and welcoming.

"Mum!" Seth shouted suddenly from beside me, and he wandered behind the clothed bar bench. "Where's the cake?"

My lips twitched in amusement, and I peered around the diner. There was a young couple in a corner booth, and a family of three at a table at the other end of the diner. They gave subtle curious looks towards me, and I strode forward, sliding onto a stool at the bar of the diner.

"Stop," I heard a command from the kitchen of the diner, and it was followed by a loud whack, then a yelp.

"Mum," Seth complained. "I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry," she replied sharply, "now get out of my kitchen, you little tyke." Seth moaned dramatically, and dragged himself into my view, his expression crestfallen. I just shook my head, amused. He pouted when he saw my expression, and fell into the stool next to mine. From the kitchen, a middle-aged native woman came wandering, adjusting her apron and flicking a stray strand of her cropped hair behind her ear. She spotted me, and her smile widened kindly. If she were shocked or terrified to see me – a vampire – she certainly hid it well.

"Ah, you must be the famous Ruby," she winked light-heartedly. "Your name seems to be the only word in Seth's vocabulary these days."

Seth scowled by my side, his cheeks darkening slightly beneath his russet tone. I gave a small laugh.

"You must be Sue," I returned. She nodded, smiling. The corners of her eyes wrinkled from age and the excessive amount of smiling she did – a trait she must've passed onto Seth.

"Would you like some cake, Ruby?" She asked politely. Seth's jaw fell in dismay, obviously rebuked by her avoidance of asking him if he wanted cake.

I gave a frank grin. "No thanks, I'm dead," I jauntily stated. She blinked at my forwardness, but let out a loud laugh.

"Sorry, dear, I forgot about that," she said apologetically. I waved her off easily.

"Mum," Seth dragged out, his face flat against the benchtop, misery clear in his features.

Sue rolled her brown eyes, pushing a small plate across the bench towards him, which held a moist piece of chocolate cake. Seth's face lit up, as if it had been announced that Santa was coming two times each year now. His mood instantly perked several octaves, and he immediately scooped a forkful of cake into his opened mouth. I watched him with fascination, my elbow propped on the bench, supporting my cheek in my palm. He noticed me midway through his second scoop.

"What?" He questioned, his eyes wide.

I shrugged, my crimson eyes twinkly. "You eat like… well, like a dog," I informed him. He just grinned toothily, flashing his teeth which were covered in residue of dark chocolate cake. I scrunched up my face in distaste, leaning away from the shape-shifter. "How do you find that delectable?"

"At least I don't slurp blood," he retorted easily. I rolled my eyes, watching as his mouth widened slightly to fit his impossibly huge forkful of cake through his lips.

"Disgusting, isn't it?" Sue mused from behind the register, as she flicked through her bills, counting the money. I nodded in silent agreement. Seth didn't seem to hear, contently shovelling the cake into his mouth. I just shook my head, deeming scolding Seth useless. He ate with horrific manners. If we were in the 1800s and Seth had been invited to a dinner with my mother and father, they'd never even consider an arranged marriage after seeing him eat.

"Wanna go for a walk?" Seth cheerfully asked, wiping his mouth with his forearm. I watched him in distaste, but nevertheless, followed him from the diner bench.

I hesitated, and turned around awkwardly. "It was nice to meet you, Sue," I offered, grimacing at my rusty manners. It had been quite a while since I felt the need to be nice to someone, and Seth's mother somehow fit that category. She smiled widely at me, her eyes twinkling happily.

"You too, dear. I hope I see you again soon." I nodded with a tiny smile, and left the diner, shuddering at my appalling attempt at kindness. I definitely needed practice.

Seth and I fell into steps side by side, my feet taking double the amount of steps to keep in line with Seth's long strides. We approached the beach, and we walked in silent up onto the cliff edge, finding ourselves on the large rock that we had occupied the last time we had come to the cliff.

Tilting my head, I thoughtfully planned my words, making sure they were void of rudeness before I spoke them. "What happened to your father?"

Seth inhaled carefully, staring ahead as his fingers fumbled with loose specks of the rock. "He had a heart attack," Seth's usually bright eyes visibly darked, and his shoulders fell slightly. "He'd been having heart problems for a while… he always made them seem small, nothing fatal, you know?" he shrugged, pursing his lips with grief and sorrow. "When my sister first phased, it caused him to have a heart attack – because no female has ever transformed. It was so unexpected. When he died, I phased too."

I listened intently, and struggled with a nice approach as his head hung sadly. My eyes squinting in discomfort, I unsurely reached out, and patted him several times on the shoulder, before I dropped my hand. He glanced over at me, offering a half smile of gratitude. I just shrugged helplessly. I can't remember the last time I needed to comfort someone who was deeply upset.

"Anyway," he shook the sorrow from his eyes, smiling keenly at me, "tell me about your family. What was it like living in nineteenth century?"

"Simple," I easily described, recalling wistfully how life had been when I was a human. Well, at least what I remembered of it. "My childhood was simple – I learnt how to cook, clean, take care of my family like my mother showed me. My father left for the army about five years before I was turned… My brother joined the Confederate Army when he was seventeen – underage. After he'd left, an unexpected man showed up at our home, and he took me away, to a rich man called John Stanley and his family. I became their slave – not their only one either." Seth was staring at me, his horror undisguised.

"You were a slave?"

I shrugged uneasily. "After about a year, I ran away, to find my brother. I came across a woman called Maria. She was a vampire, and well… here I am."

"Did you have a husband arranged for you?" Seth teased me lightly, gently steering away from the subject of my early vampirism. I could hear an undertone of intensity though – he didn't seem happy at the thought of me having an arranged marriage.

I shook my head with a small smile. "My mother wanted to wait until my father came home. If he ever did, I would've been either a slave or a vampire." Seth's expression was sympathetic, and he mimicked my earlier pat of his back, lightly clapping his large, warm hand on my shoulder blade. I gave a small chuckle.

"It wasn't as easy as an arranged marriage, though," I informed Seth, leaping onto my feet gracefully, balancing along the edge of the cliff. Seth's eyes followed my feet carefully, as if I'd fall to my death. Unlikely, I mentally mused. "My future husband would have to court me, for as long as I deemed necessary, until I agreed to marriage."

Seth gave a teasing grin. "It's so old-fashioned."

I softly smiled, with sincerity, as I remembered the 1800s. "Like every little girl, I was so excited about getting married, dreaming about what my dress would look like, who my husband would be."

"Someday," Seth stated softly, sounding sure.

I jumped across a missing chunk of the cliff edge, and turned back towards Seth. "I should return to the Cullens'," I informed him. "Jasper's probably thinking I've run back to Texas." Seth glanced up curiously. "Not yet, cowboy," I added. My words did less than soothe him, and he appeared distressed by them.

"You're going back to Texas?" His voice had dropped, just above a whisper. I blinked, surprised by the obvious dejection he displayed.

"Not yet," I repeated, suddenly focussed on easing his sadness.

Seth phased into his wolf form as he pounced off the rock, his clothes tearing. We ran into the forest, racing to the Cullen household. As we neared, I bid goodbye to the shape-shifter, and leapt into the trees, jumping across the yard into the kitchen on the second floor. Esme was humming melodically as she prepared food, for whom I assumed was Renesme. She glanced up at my abrupt arrival, and smiled kindly.

I began walking slowly past the kitchen, but paused hesitantly, glancing at Esme. "Esme…" She looked up at me. "Would you be able to teach me how to… be nice?" She blinked, and smiled widely, nodding easily, as if unsurprised by my odd request.

"Of course, my dear," she chuckled. I swallowed the venom in my throat, and awkwardly left the room, unable to even identify who I was anymore.

Ruby Whitlock wasn't nice. She was heartless and blunt. She wasn't like Seth Clearwater.

I sighed to myself as I headed up to the attic, chewing my lip absentmindedly.

Author's Note: How'd you like it? It isn't my favourite chapter I've written, but I needed to tie in a few things before I get to the interesting part, as this story has been planned prior to writing. Anyway, please review, it would mean the world, and thank you to everyone who had reviewed so far, or favourited or followed - it makes me so happy that people read my work. Anyway, see you sometime next week with a new chapter! Lots of love!