Hello everyone! Whether you're reading this story because I mentioned it to you from a previous fanfic, or you're new to the ride, I hope you will enjoy the story.

This story takes place in the future, but in an era in which mankind as regressed technologically instead of advanced. It includes all your favorite characters: the Cullens, Bella, etc. Telling you more will ruin the mystery of the story later on, so I'll simply stop typing now.

Disclaimer For The ENTIRE Story: I own none of the characters in Twilight, or any of it's sequels. No copyright violation in intended.

(How tired do you honestly get with reading Disclaimers?)

Enjoy the story!

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Edward's POV:

We were lying, motionless on the muck coated ground under the wharf. The sharp smell of salt water reached my nose as well as the distant drunken yells emanating from the nearby taverns. I wrinkled my nose in disgust as the pungent smell of vomit reached me, subtly turning my head away from the stench. Not that it did any good.

"Edward," Emmett hissed from further in the shadows, his voice laced with irritation. "I'm not huddling back here in the dark for no reason. Tell me what you see."

I rolled my eyes, turning to focus my gaze on the port. The polluted waters of the cove swirled tumultuously in the storm, feeble rays of moonlight reflecting across its surface. Straining, I could make out the large, dark shape of the boat coming into harbor.

Not bothering to turn back to face Emmett, I answered him. "The boat's sailing to the docks right now. It should port in a few hours." I paused, musing. "Do you know what time it is, Emmett?"

"Uhh, nighttime?"

"Really Emmett? I honestly didn't know that's what we called it when the sky gets all dark like this."

He growled, shifting in the shadows. "It gets confusing when you can't sleep. Anyways, I didn't bring a watch, I'm not going to take one into public and risk it getting stolen so you can know the exact time."

"Watches may be rare, but it isn't like we couldn't get a hold of more. In any case, I'm not asking what time it is for no reason. I'm trying to figure out if the ship will have enough time to unload before the auctions tomorrow."

"Want to take a head count again?"

I glanced into the shadows with exasperation. "Emmett, it's what we do. Carlisle wants as much information as he can get to help him. So that's what I'm going to do."

"Okay, okay, don't get grouchy," the voice chuckled from the shadows. "It isn't like we haven't done this before."

"No, but we haven't done it here before. The city has a different layout, different laws, and different customs. It complicates things, and I don't want to make a mistake." I snapped, annoyed at Emmett's easy casualness.

"You'd know cautions better than me, I suppose. Personally, details like that aren't my forte."

I rolled my eyes, facing back to gaze at the water. "Somehow or another, I picked that fact up after a few decades," I said, my tone scathing.

Emmett was silent for a few moments, allowing me time to stare at the ship making its slow progress into port. "Can we leave now? The smell is starting to get to me. It's worse than wet werewolf in midsummer."

I nodded mutely, wincing slightly at Emmett's comparison. "We should get back to Carlisle; he needs to be ready for tomorrow." I got up, looking around carefully, being sure to keep in the shadows. We emerged onto the street, carefully angling our faces down. Emmett adapted a drunken swagger, and I seized his shoulder as if helping him to keep his balance.

"Ahh, time for the façade!" Emmett said dramatically, imitating dramatic renaissance theatre.

I elbowed him sharply in the ribs, glancing around to ascertain if he had drawn attention to us by shouting. A few casual passerby gave us quizzical glances. Fortunately, I could tell from their scent and thoughts that all of them were blind drunk. They probably wouldn't remember where they had been tonight, much less a fellow drunk shouting about deceit.

Shaking my head annoyed, Emmett and I staggered down the wharf. I paid no attention to the closed shops, boisterous shouts coming from the taverns, nor the crumbling structures. Most parts of the docks area were a mess; home to the more shady characters of the city.

Gradually, we made our way back home. The muddy, muck covered cobblestones adapted into cleaner ones; the buildings more respectable. I ground my teeth together when I caught site of the heavy, wooden structure that was the compound. Emmett caught my tensed posture, straightening up.

"Edward, that's why we do what we do. But you can't just go and rip it apart with your bare hands, as tempting as that thought is." Emmett chuckled darkly.

I shook my head, anger still churning in my stomach like the waters of the port. "I know, I wouldn't be that foolish. It's incredibly maddening though."

The carefree grin that seemed to be a permanent feature on Emmett's big face slipped off for once. He shook his dark, curling hair out of his eyes; his expression unusually somber. "I know Edward. Our whole family does, and we aren't completely alone on issues like this. We just happen to have a few extra… abilities, so we can do more about it. We aren't the only people who care."

I dropped my head, ignoring the bronze strands of hair that whipped around my face in the chilling breeze coming off the ocean. "I know that Emmett. Sometimes, it just seems like we are."

We walked back to the house in silence, slipping through the dark alleys soundlessly as wraiths.

Another auction. Perhaps another act of grand theft after that. It seemed that was all life has for us anymore. And yet it looks as if we aren't making a difference.

We had just moved to this new area, posing as a low noble-class. It put us in the perfect position to do what we needed to. And after a few years, or a few missions gone badly wrong; we would leave again.

Not before we had seen the faces though. The faces of those we were committing our existence to save. The elderly, sick, young, and terrified. But worst of all were the hopeless. Those who felt the weight of the burden the cruel world had placed on them.

I looked up at the dark, clouded sky. Faded stars hung in the heavens, barely showing through the omnipresent layer of clouds. Dark buildings on either side of us seemed to reach up towards the sky, stretching to those faint points of light.

It seemed such a dark world, anymore. So desperate and dim. Even more so than the unfortunate people we helped, who had nothing left to them. No vision of the future, no care past living through this day. And no feeling that anything better could ever ensue.

They were not the only ones feeling hopeless anymore.

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So: good, bad, confusing? Excellent. Drop a review, if you wish. If you don't, then you probably wouldn't be bothering to read this note right now.

Lon-Dubh