The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide

cared about.

Benjamin was not only able to control fire easily; he also developed the ability to manipulate other elements.

It was clear to Amun that Benjamin was an unprecedented find. No one else like him existed in the vampire world.

Amun spent a great deal of time developing Benjamin‘s talent. He was overjoyed that the promise he‘d seen in the human boy was more than answered in the young vampire. Benjamin was not only able to control fire easily; he also developed the ability to manipulate other elements. Wind came to him first after fire, then earth, and finally water. It was clear to Amun that Benjamin was an unprecedented find. No one else like him existed in the vampire world.

Amun was cautiously hopeful that his luck had finally turned.

After Benjamin had completely outgrown the newborn madness, he began to think more and more of Tia. Though his memories of her were dim, he remembered enough to worry about what would become of her without his protection, or his uncle‘s. Amun tried to convince Benjamin that human problems no longer applied to him, without success. Amun kept him as busy as possible, developing his talents and educating him in the arts and sciences, but Benjamin still found ample time to privately agonize over Tia‘s fate. He asked permission to look for her, but Amun was adamant. He told Benjamin it was far too dangerous to risk discovery, and that the Volturi would destroy Amun and Kebi to get to Benjamin.

About five years after his transformation, Benjamin disobeyed. One night when Amun was hunting, Benjamin briefly trapped Kebi with a small cave-in, and then escaped. Though it was his first time aboveground in five years, Benjamin remained totally focused. He was determined not to be responsible for putting Amun in any danger. He searched at night, questioning anyone connected to Tia, himself, or his uncle. He was careful to hunt inconspicuously, leaving no traces that might be reported to the Volturi. To avoid notice during the day he hid underground, in crevices he created himself.

?HE‘D STREWN PILES OF BOULDERS IN NATURAL–LOOKING, NOW

SNOW-COVERED HEAPS ALL ALONG THE BACK OF THE MEADOW. THEY

WEREN‘T ENOUGH TO INJURE A VAMPIRE, BUT HOPEFULLY ENOUGH TO

DISTRACT ONE.?

— Bella, on Benjamin (Breaking Dawn, Chapter 35) Eventually he found clues to Tia‘s trail, which led him to the port city of Suez, where she had been sold for a modest dowry to a much older man. She‘d been fifteen at the time; she was now seventeen. Benjamin was conflicted. Tia was safe. She had a home and a husband. His plan to save her seemed unnecessary now. He watched her for two nights, wondering what the right course would be. Finally he decided to ask Tia.

He waited until an evening when her husband stayed late in the city, and then he called to her from her small garden. He was afraid to have her see him in the lamplight inside, afraid that she would be horrified by the changes in him. When Tia saw him through the window, she raced downstairs to meet him. Though she was momentarily shocked by his pale, hard skin, she was overjoyed to see him again, having thought for five years that he was dead.

Benjamin told her the truth right away, and explained why he‘d come to find her. He said he realized now that she did not need rescuing, and told her he would go away. Tia was awestruck by the revelation that her best friend was an actual vampire, and yet still so compassionate and so much the boy she remembered. She asked for more details. As they talked, they walked away from Tia‘s house, through the dark city streets, so that her husband would not discover Benjamin when he returned. Benjamin told her all the details about his vampire life, Amun, Kebi, and hiding from the Volturi. They talked all night. When dawn was close, Tia worried that Benjamin would die. Benjamin told her about the sun‘s real effect on vampires. He offered to take her home before he had to hide, but Tia didn‘t want to go home — she‘d already made up her mind. Benjamin needed her; she wasn‘t going to leave him to face the dangers of the Volturi alone. Benjamin warned her of the pain, but she would not be dissuaded.

Benjamin guessed that it would be wiser to convert Tia before taking her back to Amun.

Benjamin guessed that it would be wiser to convert Tia before taking her back to Amun.

He created a deep fissure in the desert outside Suez and carried Tia inside. There he bit her, and then waited with her through the three days of her transformation. As soon as she was transformed, Benjamin took her hunting. When she was satiated, they went back to Amun‘s temple.

Amun was at first enraged, but quickly calmed down as Benjamin explained. Clearly, no harm had been done. Having Tia with him as a vampire would remove Benjamin‘s one tie to the human world. And Benjamin had proved that he could be relied upon in the outside world.

Amun‘s coven began to live a little more normally, though always with the greatest secrecy possible. Benjamin was very happy in his coven, with Tia as his mate. He did not question Amun‘s motives.

FAMOUS QUOTES

“It?s a pity you couldn?t replace my will with your own in the process; perhaps then you would have been satisfied with me.” Breaking Dawn, Chapter 34

“Apparently, I?m a hot commodity. It appears I have to win the right to be free.”

Breaking Dawn, Chapter 34

KEBI

NAME: Kebi

DATE OF BIRTH: Before 2500 B.C.

DATE OF TRANSFORMATION: Unknown

SOURCE OF TRANSFORMATION: Amun

PLACE OF ORIGIN: Egypt

HAIR COLOR: Black

EYE COLOR: Red/black (vampire)

HEIGHT: 5‘3?