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           Theydidn’thuntthewayothersoftheirkinddid-theyweren’tsupposedtobedangeroustothetribe.Somygreat-grandfathermadeatrucewiththem.Iftheywouldpromisetostayoffourlands,wewouldn’texposethemtothepale-faces."Hewinkedatme.

           "Iftheyweren’tdangerous,thenwhy...?"Itriedtounderstand,strugglingnottolethimseehowseriouslyIwasconsideringhisghoststory.

           "There’salwaysariskforhumanstobearoundthecoldones,evenifthey’recivilizedlikethisclanwas.Youneverknowwhentheymightgettoohungrytoresist."Hedeliberatelyworkedathickedgeofmenaceintohistone.

           "Whatdoyoumean,’civilized’?"

           "Theyclaimedthattheydidn’thunthumans.Theysupposedlyweresomehowabletopreyonanimalsinstead."

           Itriedtokeepmyvoicecasual."SohowdoesitfitinwiththeCullens?Aretheylikethecoldonesyourgreatgrandfathermet?"

           "No."Hepauseddramatically."Theyarethesameones."

           Hemusthavethoughttheexpressiononmyfacewasfearinspiredbyhisstory.Hesmiled,pleased,andcontinued.

           "Therearemoreofthemnow,anewfemaleandanewmale,buttherestarethesame.Inmygreat-grandfather’stimetheyalreadyknewoftheleader,Carlisle.He’dbeenhereandgonebeforeyourpeoplehadevenarrived."Hewasfightingasmile.

           "Andwhatarethey?"Ifinallyasked."Whatarethecoldones?"

           Hesmileddarkly.

           "Blooddrinkers,"herepliedinachillingvoice."Yourpeoplecallthemvampires."

           Istaredoutattheroughsurfafterheanswered,notsurewhatmyface

           wasexposing.