Twilight: One Foot in Front of the Other

The Dance

Shan woke, but not from her usual dreams, she lay there confused until she heard the voices again. They must have more guests, but by the stress in the air these guest were not welcome. Shan quickly dressed and headed to the living room.


“So the heart beat joins us” came an unfamiliar voice


“Her name is Shandalynn,” growled Eleazar as Carmen rests her hand on his arm and Shan came to stand by them


“Shandalynn, pretty name for a pretty girl” grinned Aro walking up to Shan and reaching for her hand.


“Thank you kindly” replied Shan placing her hands in her back pockets


“I only wish to kiss a pretty ladies hand” smirked Aro still holding his out


“Aro reads people though touch” growled Eleazar “I use to work with them”


“You were part of the Volturi?” asks Shan confused


“Yes, we miss his skills,” grinned Aro “let me see your hand”


“She doesn’t like to be touched” Eleazar replied placing himself in front of her.


“Jane, dear” grinned Aro


“You do and it will be the last thing you do,” growled Shan looking at Jane who merely smiled as Eleazar went to his knees, in pain. Shan wasted no time in leaping for her. Pain flashed though her, but she still landed a firm kick to Jane’s gut sending her though the living room window. Shan was out the window and going for the killing blow when she suddenly found herself unable to see. Blinking to try to clear her eyes, she remembered the one called Alec and his ability to block senses.


“Now, now there is no need for all this” comments Aro and lifting his hand to Alec “I only wish to talk”


As Shan’s eyes cleared, she could see Demetri holding the still unconscious Jane in his arms. “Then why are you hurting me family, if talking is what you wish” hissed Shan


“Merely establishing authority my dear. I find these meetings go much smoother if everyone is on the same page” grinned Aro “here let me help you up”


“Thanks but I can manage,” snapped Shan gliding to her feet


“You are most graceful,” smiles Aro “and your ability to ignore pain, most interesting”


“Leave her be, she is of no use to you” growled Eleazar though gritted pain filled teeth


“I am merely curious” Aro was still looking at Shan “how is it that your two clans seem to find the most interesting people?”


“Perhaps, if we all sat down, it seems we have gotten off on the wrong foot,” suggested Carlisle


“Another time, we must be on our way, we have other business to attend to” smiles Aro still staring at Shan “but first, your hand my dear”


Shan smiled and stretched out her hand, as Aro took it he froze, pain spread across his face. He quickly released her hand, trying to compose himself.


“Did you read enough?” smirked Shan


“Save me a dance my dear” crocked Aro still trying to recover from the piercing pain “most interesting” and with that they turned and left.


“What did you do?” asks Tanya in amazement


“I let him see the pain Jane had inflicted” smiled Shan “guess he could not handle it”


“So you were able to control what he saw?” asks Edward “is that why I don’t see much”


“Yea, a little trick I learned” shrugged Shan


“You act as if you have dealt with the Volturi before, but Aro didn’t seem to know you?” inquires Emmet


“It is complicate” shrugged Shan


“That answer is getting really old.” Scowled Emmet crossing his arms “do you ever just answer a question?”’


“How do you know of the Volturi?” asks Eleazar “and I want a straight up no dodging answer”


“Ramsey, he was scared that they would find him. He was always questioning Derrick to make sure that they were not aware of his work.” Sighed Shan “He figured that if they found out they would kill him”


“Ramsey, he is the one that experimented on you?” asked Carlisle cautiously, hoping she was finally ready to talk with him.


“Eye.” answered Shan knowing she was not going to like any of the following questions


“What was he trying to learn?” continued Carlisle and waving a hand for her to sit


“He wanted to be like you, just without the thirst and pale sparkling skin.” Began Shan “he theorized that you are the way you are due to a virus. One that has mutated thought the years. He had found some sort of evidence that convinced him that when the virus first began, immortality, controlled thirst and your special abilities were the only major differences.”


“Do you know what it was that convinced him of this?” asks Carlisle leaning forward in his chair


“No,” replied Shan shaking her head


“So, what was it that he did to you?” asked Emmet 


“Shan, so he was hoping to find the original strand of the virus” asks Carlisle quickly while scowling at Emmet


“Sort of, I guess.” Stammered Shan


“What do you mean?” continued Carlisle patiently


“I do not understand it exactly. He talked about markers,” sighed Shan trying to find the right words “He seemed to believe that everyone’s special abilities is something that they already had before turning, and that they could be found in ones blood markers. However, after one is turned than the makers become more prominent in the venom as it replaces your blood.”


“So he was also looking for the reason for why some people have special powers and other do not,” commented Carlisle


“No, he was looking for a way to gather those powers,” replied Shan “he wanted them for his self. He wanted to be the most powerful among you, that way no one would dare defy him.”


“So he was trying to become a super cold blood,” commented Emmet


“Yea,” replied Shan


“Where you the only one he experimented on?” continued Carlisle


“No, but I am the only one still alive, and the only success” Shan was looking at Carlisle watching him choose his words “ask what you like I will try and answer”


“The only success?” smiled Carlisle and nodded in understanding


“I do not be knowing much about me, but I do know this, I was born a warm blood, he turned me it to a mix blood” began Shan


“What do you mean turned you into a mix blood?” questioned Emmet


“Emmet please, let me do the asking” requested Carlisle patiently


“How do you turn someone into a mixed blood either you’re born that way or you’re not” defended Emmet


“Tell me the differences between you and a warm blood, and that of a cold blood,” continued Carlisle 


“Well you hear me loud fast heart, n you smell me scent. I can hear better than a warm blood but not as well as you cold bloods, me sense of smell is the same as a warm blood, and I see almost as well as cold bloods do. Is that what you mean?” shrugged Shan


“Sort of, is there any major difference medically” smiled Carlisle


“Well if you were to take me blood, it would act the same as any warm blood, unless you know how to test it properly. I am faster, stronger, and heal quicker than warm bloods,” replied Shan


“How would I have to test your blood to see the differences?” asked Carlisle


“You would have to recalibrate your machine to this,” Shan had wrote some numbers on a paper and handed to him “no I don’t be minding if you take some and try it” smiled Shan


“I will take you up on that. But for now I think I would like to just conceder what you have said” smile Carlisle warmly “may we speak again”


“Eye that would be fine” smiled Shan


“Do you have any questions?” asked Carlisle


“No, not really any you can answer at the moment,” sighed Shan


“So is this Ramsey dude still around,” growled Emmet


“No, I destroyed him and his lab” smiled Shan ‘no crazed bear this time” teased Shan


“Do you think that you can help her sleep?” smiled Carmen the worry prevalent in her voice


“With all his work destroyed?”  Carlisle was shaking his head “I am not sure at this point, his notes would have been a big help. I can try giving her some sleeping pills”


“No, me and meds, we don’t get on so well” shrugged Shan


“What do you mean?” Asked Carlisle


“He has changed too much of me, me body will try to make it a part of me” Shan was looking at Carlisle in hopes that he would understand


“Well that makes scenes” sarcastically groaned Emmet


“I be trying to explain it is not easy,” snapped Shan stand up in aggravation


“Sorry,” Emmet had moved over to her “really I am”


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The completion had been fierce, a warm welcome of release after the early morning visitors. Shan and Tanya were one of the bigger crowd grabbers, taking third in the team hand to hand. Seemed everyone including the Volturi was curious about the mix blood.  Emmet was in the top five, and Jasper was second in the one on one hand-to-hand. Everyone was in good cheer as they returned to the house that afternoon.


“So how full is your dance card now?” Kate teased Shan as they entered the house


“Not funny” she moaned heading to her room “I need a bath”


“Hurry we need to get started” bounced Alice


“Started on what?” ask Shan


“For your makeover silly” hugs Alice “squishy “


“I’m not squi…. What do you mean make over?” panicked Shan


“I defiantly like the new family member,” laughs Bella


“No! I agreed to the outfit NOT a makeover” protests Shan “the warning label people! Warning label, Bella”


“Opps sorry Shan, I forgot,” grinned Bella “Alice also enjoys makeovers”


“It is a bit early to start getting ready,” Smiled Esme coming to her rescue. “Go enjoy your bath Shan”


“But if she is to look like my vision…” protested Alice as Shan quickly disappeared into her room locking her door behind her


The hot water felt so good on her aching muscles, the competitions was tough, but it had been fun fighting alongside Tanya. She was still amazed at how well the two of them fell in sync. It was as if they had been fighting side by side for decades, as if they really were sisters. Of course, it still surprised her that she even knew how to fight, another gift from Zedekiah: “he truly was a warrior” though Shan rubbing her wrist where he had bitten her.  Though she could have done without all the fuss from the crowd, at least six people asked for dances. “It was going to be a long night, if they all really meant it. Maybe they will rethink it when they see Emmet next to me” sighed Shan dry off and heading to her room to get around before Alice could turn her into a makeover doll “Why can’t she just except me for me, I’m really not that bad”. As Shan went to pull back her hair into a ponytail, she heard Alice dancing her way to the door.


“No Alice! I will get me self around thank you very much” Shan tone was firm as she opened the door “Carmen, please” her tone now pleading and tired


“But!” Began Alice


“Alice, I am sorry but Shan is really a privet person” Smiled Carmen wrapping her arms around Alice’s shoulders “besides, you have already seen how she will look”


“Only if she does not change her mind, she has already changed it like four times, and the first time was the prettiest,” protested Alice


“Please Alice just leave me be, to dress” sighed Shan looking at Carmen


“Come on Alice, you are going to have to give her some more time to get to know you” consoled Kate


“Urge,” moaned Shan closing the door


“O Shan, you look so pretty,” squealed Alice


“I am not dressed yet,” rolling her eyes around thinking, “one reads thoughts, one knows the future, one messes with your emotions, man am I glad I chose Alaska over Forks. Great hearing and smell is hard enough to live with”


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  My, don’t you girls look pretty” smiles Carlisle as they all entered the living room


“Yes you all look very nice,” adds Eleazar giving Shan a kiss on the cheek


“Come on guys lets go,” says Emmet impatiently coming in from outside and stopping in his tracks. “Wow, pretty, no very elegant”


“The girls are finally ready,” smiles Jasper


“That is a very good way to describe her,” whispered Edward surprise by Emmet’s thoughts


“How” Esme thought curiously


“Elegant” whispered Edward answering Esme who smiled in approval


As they drew near, they began hearing the music and the murmur of people’s voices. 


“Shandalynn make sure and save a dance for me” winks Eleazar taking Carmen’s hand and heading towards some friends, followed by Carlisle and Esme


“Well how many dances is that counting Jeab’s?” teases Kate   


“Not funny Kate he’s not getting near her” growls Emmet 


“Okay if this is pick on Shan night, I’m going home,” growls Shan as she grows nervous from the crowd     


“And if you come across a bear who would protect you from it this time?” winks Emmet as they entered the tent


“Ugh, won’t you ever let that go?” Smiles Shan slapping him ‘wow, it’s like hitting a rock’ thought Shan to herself


“Let's dance Jasper” bounced Alice pulling him onto the dance floor


“So do I get the first dance?” asks Jeab coming up from behind


“To late, we’re about to dance” Glares Emmet putting his hand on the small of her back


“Good then we can dance, ooh and it’s a fast song” winks Kate pulling Jeab out onto the dance floor


“This is goanna be good” laughs Edward as he leads Bella out onto the dance floor


“Why is that?  Isn’t she a good dancer?” asks Shan


“Well, it's not that she’s bad…she just…well…watch” points Emmet


As she watched Kate dance, she couldn’t help but laugh. It was as if she was standing in the middle of a club. Kate had all the dirty dancing moves down to perfection, poor Jeab was already covered in her lips stick, the guy looked like he’d been mugged, the song wasn’t even half over and he was trying desperately to leave. Kate was doing everything she could to embarrass him, and succeeding.          


“Well do you know how to dance?” asks Emmet taking her hand and heading for the dance floor “wow she is so warm, and her hand it is so little” thinks Emmet


She just  shrugged her shoulders  watching several girls to see how they moved “even his hands are huge” thinks Shan ”I’m not doing the Kate dance” laughs Shan


“Ugh! Come on!” Edward groaned from the other side of the room


“What do you keep thinking?” blushes Shan 


“Just how pretty you look this evening” smiles Emmet


“Yea right am I really supposed to buy that?” laughs Shan


“Of course!” begins Emmet smiling as a slow song begins, and he puts his arms around her waist. They glided and twirled over the dance floor as if they were on air. “So you can dance, you are so graceful.”


“Esme and Carmen were right, you are light on your feet,” laughed Shan as he twirled her like a top around his body. The two of them never missed a beat, whether the music was fast or slow. She had lost all track of time; it was as if they were the only two in the world, until she heard


“May I cut in?” You look very beautiful tonight” smiles Jeab taking her into his arms ignoring Emmet’s growls


“Thank you” replies Shan pulling away in an attempt to put some space between them


“Relax come here closer to me” winks Jeab pulling her closer


“Thank you but I don’t like to dance close,” replied Shan trying to push away


“Don’t be such a tease, I saw you dancing with Emmet. You know you’re very warm,” growls Jeab grabbing tighter


“Let go of me,” demands Shan though gritted teeth as Emmet’s hand rests on Jeab’s shoulder.


“She said to let go” growls Emmet tightening his grip


“Chill, it was just dancing” replies Jeab letting go with Emmet stepping in between


“Your dance is done Jeab” growls Emmet as Edward and Jasper place themselves on either side of him


“Thanks for the dance, until next time” says Jeab looking past the three in front of him smiling


“There's not going to be a next time,” growls Edward


“Emmet, we can’t fight, remember the rules,” says Shan gently tugging on the back of his shirt


“Everything okay here,” inquired Aro


“Yes, everything is fine” spat Shan “Emmet and I were just dancing”


“I thought you and Jeab were dancing. Is my eyes deceiving me?” raised Aro’s eyebrows


“That dance is over, now we are dancing” clarified Shan


“You still owe me a dance, my dear” smiled Aro holding his hand out for hers and bowing slightly


“Sorry, me card seems to be full,” growled Shan


“Now, now let’s not be rude” Aro smiled impatiently waiting on Shan’s hand


“I thought a lady got to chose with whom she danced” smirked Shan


“I don’t like to be embarrassed,” informed Aro no longer smiling “your causing a scene”


With a quick glance around Shan sighed, centered her thoughts and took his hand


“You intrigue me, my dear” smiled Aro


“Please kind sir, me name is Shan,” mocked Shan


“How is it that you can keep my thoughts at bay?” inquired Aro “I have meant only one other that could do that, yes him, you know him?”


Shan’s face went red, she had not meant to think of Titus, he had caught her off guard, “We meant once” replied Shan while scolding herself


“He taught you his trick upon your first meeting” Aro was even more curious “this would be much easier if you would drop the block”


“Me thoughts and memories are me own, know one else’s” replied Shan sweetly


“Intriguing” muttered Aro “you remind me of one who would sit on a throne. Is there royalty in your back ground?”


“Having trouble learning about me?” inquired Shan deciding that two could ask questions, “Where is it that you descend from”


“So it is only one way than, you cannot read me” Aro arrogant smile returning


“Thank you for the dance kind sir” smiled Shan though gritted teeth as the music began to change


“Of course my dear, perhaps we can dance again sometime?” smiled Aro as he turned and left


“Emmet, thank you for the dances, but I think I am going to call it a night,” sighed Shan


“How about a walk?” he smiled and offered his arm


“You don’t have to leave. Stay and enjoy yourself” smiled Shan thinking, “he really is sweet”


“And pass up a walk with a pretty lady, never” winked Emmet wrapping Shan’s hand though his arm “the night is still young”