The Chalice of Jade
Sort of crossover between White Collar and Twilight. It is a White Collar story with the characters from Twilight stepping in. Timeline-wise, Twilight is after Book 3, White Collar is season 4 when Neal and Sara are back together. A surprise character will also step in.…
Written by Arches67 and Yellowstone69. Our first fan-fiction together; please let us know what you think of it.
Finally beta'd for English by The Fictionist Aura (thank you very much, this was long to read).
Forks, Washington
After the harsh times they had gone through, with Bella finally having chosen Edward over Jacob, life in Forks was peaceful again. The Cullen household was eerily quiet. Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett were traveling abroad, enjoying life. Carlisle and Esme remained there, ready to protect the humans if the vampires were to come again. Edward was enjoying Bella's presence again after all the difficulties they had gone through.
That morning, Edward was playing the piano, finalizing a new melody for Bella; Esme was deeply involved in the plans of the house meant to be Edward and Bella's wedding present.
Carlisle was in his office, busy sorting through papers and tidying up his countless books. The TV was set to CNN on low volume. Suddenly, the news report caught his attention.
"Next July, New York will see the opening of an exceptional exhibition devoted to chalices..." The report went on. "One of the most startling pieces will probably be a surprising chalice of jade, found in Volterra, Italy, a few months ago. It is made.…"
Carlisle wasn't listening anymore. Memories, buried deep in his mind, were rushing up as a giant tidal wave.
One floor below, for the first time in over a hundred years, Edward lost his tune on the piano, overwhelmed by the strength of Carlisle's thoughts. They were puzzling, bringing forth a hope he had never envisioned in his wildest dreams.
A few seconds later, he was in his father's office.
"Carlisle, is it true? Could it be?"
New York, 3 months later
'Chalices: Prayer and Power'. The banner was lightly waving in the morning's breeze. Neal glanced at it and entered the building.
Saturday morning, he was enjoying his free time by visiting one of the museums within his radius. He had already seen them all since his release from prison, and he was glad for the new temporary exhibits. A two-mile radius didn't allow him to visit as many museums or galleries as he wished. Furthermore, some places were even banned unless he had a chaperone. Convincing Peter to take him to some exhibitions required more persuasion skills than even the greatest con man on earth possessed.
This exhibition was devoted to chalices. The curator had gathered pieces from all over the world, thereby creating a varied patchwork of chalices that put forward the deep symbolism of the chalice since the first cup of the Christ.
The cups were shown in glass cases. Some, hundreds of years old, were surprising in their sheer simplicity: plain religious objects, their sole value was their history. Others were real pieces of art, with precious gems worth a small fortune. Neal couldn't help glance at his anklet, almost expecting it to alert of his presence so close to such a fortune. ((Just a suggestion, you used fortune in the previous sentence- might want to look for a synonym))
His brain surveyed the room, the visitors, the guards. Without consciously realizing it, he was casing the place. He couldn't help it, it was second nature. Sometimes, he wasn't even aware he was doing it. That's why he was surprised by the behavior of a young man: he wasn't moving like the other visitors. He had gone through the exhibition, studying the pieces, and was now going back for the third time to the same chalice.
Neal got closer. It was a chalice of jade. Carved from a single piece of jade, it was beautiful, and the craftsmanship incredible. It was a unique piece for sure, but not even close to some of the other cups as regarded value. He read the tag underneath the glass again.
"JadeChalice – 12th century (?). Carved from a single piece of jade. Origins unknown. Inscription language unknown."
"Now, that's mysterious," Neal murmured, glancing at his neighbor.
They were alone by the chalice. Most of the visitors—still few on this opening day—were gathered by the most valuable pieces.
"Hence its value," the stranger answered.
Neal looked at him closely. He was very young, barely over eighteen, his skin surprisingly pale, his hair an unusual bronze color. He moved with an almost catlike grace.…
"You seem knowledgeable," Neal started the conversation.
This stranger intrigued him. Who wore a hooded sweat shirt in July in New York? His instinct was telling him he wasn't here just to admire the chalice. What intrigued him even more was that he couldn't pinpoint which of his instincts had just awoken: the criminal or the FBI consultant?
"Chalices belong to the Christian sects. From the first cup of the Christ, which has never been recovered, men have been creating splendorous objects to honor their God. Personally, I find that some simple chalices are far more moving than the ones covered in gems.…"
"Built to show the power of the church they belonged to. Religion has always been linked to power," Neal added.
The stranger smiled. "Which makes this exhibition particularly interesting, gathering such different pieces." He extended his hand. "Edward Cullen."
"Neal Caffrey," Neal answered, shaking the hand.
They kept discussing the chalices. Neal soon realized that Edward avoided talking about the story of the jade chalice, yet he seemed to know a lot more than the few lines in the exhibition brochure. He promised himself to do some research. The object was quite interesting and Edward was even more fascinating. The young man was hiding something; Neal would have bet his treasure on it.
After a last walk through the exhibition, they bid farewell and left the museum. Neal went back home for lunch and to enjoy his weekend. Sara was coming later; they had decided to have brunch together in Central Park on Sunday. He had the whole afternoon to research the chalice.
Monday, FBI office
Monday morning, Neal was sitting at his desk, finishing a report. Peter had been in a meeting since eight o'clock and Neal hadn't seen him yet. He raised his head when he heard some noise up the stairs and smiled when Peter waved to him. A friendly gesture, not the two-finger point: an invitation, not a summoning. He could go with his mind at peace… for now. Despite the years and the trust that they had established, Neal knew that he had enough hidden secrets to never be free from something coming up then being lectured thoroughly.
Neal entered the agent's office and sat without waiting for an invitation.
"Morning, Neal. You had a nice weekend?" Peter asked.
A bit surprised by the opening, Neal opted for a polite answer.
"Yes, thank you."
"Did you see Sara?"
Neal frowned, slightly ill at ease. Where did that particular interest in his private life come from? He hadn't done anything special; he had remained well within his radius, and the museum wasn't on the forbidden list. He racked his brain wondering where Peter was going with this.
"Yes.…" He added then as an afterthought, "We actually had a picnic in Central Park on Sunday."
Peter tried to hide a smile.
"I guess you would appreciate someplace quieter than Central Park?" the agent asked mysteriously.
"Yes.…" Neal answered carefully.
Seeing his associate's troubled face, Peter couldn't help laughing.
"Relax, Neal, you're not in trouble."
Although he had been pretty sure of it, Neal let out a small relieved sigh.
"I have a present for you," Peter announced, handing him an envelope.
Neal raised a questioning eyebrow and reached out carefully. Peter burst out laughing, glad for the confusion he had created. He didn't get to surprise the con man that often.
Neal opened the envelope and read the documents. He understood the words but had some trouble getting the whole meaning.
"Peter?"
"As that document states, you have been given an exceptional authorization to leave New York next weekend, a sort of 4th of July gift."
The light that illuminated Neal's eyes could have lighted MadisonSquareGarden on game night; the thousand-watt smile certainly warmed the room by several degrees. He opened his mouth to answer but couldn't manage any words.
"Incredible! Neal Caffrey speechless. I thought I'd never live to see that.…"
"Peter…. I don't know.… Thank you.…" Neal stammered, both dazzled and happy.
"I sent in a request several weeks ago. The higher-ups have agreed that as a thank you for your help and your impeccable behavior, you would be allowed a special favor. You do realize though that this is not a 'Get Out of Jail' card."
"Yeah, I can imagine.… Marshals at my door the whole weekend.…" Neal mumbled.
"No, nothing that harsh. You are allowed a one hundred and fifty miles radius, nothing near the coast. You are not allowed to be anywhere near an airport, train station, bus terminal…"
"Okay, I get it. No boat, no train, no plane. Am I still allowed to travel by car?" Neal asked his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Peter gave him a reproaching stare and went on with the restrictions list. "A two-mile radius from your lodging.…"
"Two miles.… but if I'm in the middle of nowhere I'll be actually stuck in the house…" Neal moaned.
"Would you rather be entitled to two hundred yards?"
"No. Two miles is just perfect," Neal hastily replied with a fake satisfied smile.
"Once you get to your lodging, you give us a call and we reposition your GPS. You will be monitored 24/7. The slightest misstep and you will be wearing orange so fast, your head will spin. Clear?"
"Peter, you do realize that a threat has to be credible to have any effect?" Neal asked with an amused smile.
"Because you're so sure I wouldn't send you back to prison if you pushed too far?" the agent shot back.
"I won't deny that you would probably want to, but would you actually carry through.…"
Peter shot him a dark glance. "Try me and you'll see."
"Peter, how long do you figure it would take before I'm found in the showers with my throat sliced?"
Peter felt himself pale. Not because of Neal's comment: he did know that his CI had sent too many people behind bars to be safe in prison anymore. What petrified him was the quiet knowledge with which Neal said it. As if he had accepted that and took it for granted.
Still, Neal forgot all too often the real meaning of the anklet he wore. Peter needed to remind him who was in charge; he still had an ace.
"We could put you in solitary confinement."
It was Neal's turn to pale. He hadn't thought about that. Not at all. Because he knew that Peter knew that he couldn't face solitary. He frowned, looking at the agent, then smiled. Peter was just pulling on the leash, reminding him who was holding it. He raised his hands in surrender.
"I'll be nice, I promise," he said softly.
"You have all the details in the envelope. Please do not make me regret posting this request."
"You will not," Neal answered with dreamy eyes.
He was going to take Sara to a cottage in the Catskills for a wonderful lovers' weekend. He hoped the cabin he knew was available.
"What are you still doing in my office? Shoo, get to work before I change my mind," Peter growled mockingly.
Neal jumped out of his chair. "Thank you, Peter. Really, I appreciate it."
He left the office and went to his desk with a happy bounce; the smile on his lips remained there for the rest of the day. He would call Sara later to let her know the good news.
That evening, he went home quite late. He had spent the day working on old dusty files looking for clues that no one had found so far; he wanted to show Peter that he was fully aware of the confidence he was given. He had finally stumbled upon a clue in a file and had wanted to get through it before leaving. Peter had left long before him, commenting with a smile, "We may end up getting something good out of you," while he let himself out of the office. Neal had finalized his notes and left the office well after 9:00 pm.
He entered the loft only lighted by the outside city lights. He sighed with contentment. Almost four years and he still couldn't believe his luck at living in such a place. He remained in the dark, enjoying the calm. He removed his tie and jacket. He got himself a drink and stepped out on the terrace. The air was hot but nice, a wonderful summer night. The noises from the city drifted up, present but not overwhelming.
He gave a jump when he heard a noise and turned around sharply. A shadow came forward. Neal cast a worried eye around him. He was against the balustrade, at the end of the terrace; he was trapped, not a situation he enjoyed. The shadow got closer, opening his arms in a peaceful gesture. Neal frowned.
"Edward?"
"Good evening, Neal. I didn't mean to scare you." Edward brought his hands down slowly and got closer.
Neal's instinct woke up again with a vengeance. How had Edward gotten there? How had he found him? And most of all, why was he there? Nobody turned up suddenly on a third floor terrace after a friendly chat at a museum.
Edward stood at a safe distance; he didn't want to scare Neal. Their first encounter had been smooth; he didn't want to spoil that first impression.
"I would like to talk to you," he explained.
"How did you find me?" Neal asked, settling for one of his questions.
"I followed you when you left the museum."
Neal raised a surprised eyebrow. He couldn't remember the last time someone had followed him without his noticing. Edward was really good.… And that weird feeling he had had at the museum came back. That young man had something different about him.
"You are good."
"I do have some… gifts." He might as well be forthcoming. Considering what he was about to ask, Edward decided to be honest from the beginning.
"It would seem," Neal murmured. "The same ones that helped you climb the building to reach the terrace?"
"Yes, I have always been good at gym," Edward said with a little laugh.
Neal couldn't help smiling. He could spot a lame excuse from miles away; that one wasn't even believable. He felt like he was seeing a younger version of himself, with different talents, obviously, not necessarily easy to admit. He raised his glass.
"Can I offer you a drink?" he asked. "Some wine…?" Edward shook his head. "A soda…?" The young man kept declining with his head, and Neal went on, "Some water… a cup of blood?"
The two men froze at the same time, Neal because of the huge discovery; Edward for being uncovered that soon. They looked at each other in silence for a long time.
The research Neal had done on the chalice had been absolutely fascinating, a mix of legends, secrets, mysterious characters. Volterra, the city where the chalice came from, was, according to an old legend, the place where the high powers of vampires lived. He hadn't been able to link the chalice to Volterra, but since both were related to blood, there was probably a link there. However, his research on the Internet hadn't panned out. But all this was a legend, wasn't it?
"The articles I read about you are really far from the truth," Edward mumbled, even paler than before, if it was possible, confirming the stupid hypothesis Neal had just hinted at.
Neal didn't answer. His brain was still trying to sort out the information. He had meant the invitation as a joke, planning to explain it to Edward. The young man did seem fascinated by the chalice after all. But seeing the reaction of his visitor, he was starting to think that this meeting was way more surprising than he had anticipated. His uneasy feeling increased. Edward was far too shaken for Neal to ignore he had just hit the right nail.
Vampires do not exist, a little voice said inside his head. Except that apparently maybe… He took a long gulp from his glass of wine. He needed the boost. Some questions were bound to be very interesting. The evening was quite promising.
"Let's sit," he finally offered to his uninvited guest.
They left the terrace and sat inside. Edward settled on the couch, Neal chose the armchair and absentmindedly pushed it backwards a little bit. He couldn't bring himself to ask the one question in his mind. 'Are you a vampire?' seemed a little out of place.
"Neal, feel free to ask any question you want."
"What if I get some garlic?"
"No effect at all," Edward answered with a smile, as if had already gone through this conversation before.
"What if I take a crucifix..."
"Still nothing."
"And since I already saw you outside, I guess daylight has no effect on you either…"
"It actually has an interesting effect… Neal, the only way to kill me is by cutting my head off and then burning my whole body. That wouldn't prove very easy to do on a terrace in New York, if you want my opinion. And furthermore, you would need to be much stronger than I am."
"This does not sound very reassuring," Neal concluded, drinking the last of his glass past the ball in his throat. "What's going to happen when you get hungry? Do I have time to make some phone calls? Say goodbye to my friends?" Neal asked now.
"I'm not here to kill you. Relax."
Neal nodded with a grimace. That was easier said than done. In the space of few minutes, he had discovered that vampires were not a legend, that the means to kill them were a hoax and that everything written about them was a huge con.… And now, one of them was in his living room and wanted to talk to him. Nothing in his past, though rich in weird encounters, had prepared him for this.
"If it'll make you feel better, I'll let you know that I haven't had a single drop of human blood for the past eighty years. I only feed on animal blood, a vegetarian vampire, if I may. What's more, I'm fed for a week, so you are perfectly safe for a few days. Although I do admit, being among so many humans is sometimes quite challenging.
"No human blood, great.… Please, do me a favor: leave June's dog alone; I like him." Neal tried to joke but couldn't make himself smile. "This is still difficult for me… a vampire. I've done lots of things in my life, met surprising people, but a vampire.… To what do I owe the honor?"
"I wasn't expecting an open-arms welcome. I'm just asking that you give me the chance to answer your questions, to explain why I'm here tonight. If in the end, you don't want to see me ever again, I will disappear and you'll never hear from me again."
Slightly relieved, other questions came to Neal's mind, more practical this time. Actually they were bouncing around in his head. Then a weird thing happened. When he considered one question, the answer came immediately.
"… a family of six, living together, with no leader—each member free to leave at any time. Only one rule: no human blood.…"
"I am one hundred ten; my creator, Carlisle—my father in a way—is three hundred sixty three."
"Quite an incredible speed. I can cross the country in two days. Water is not a problem since we do not need to breathe."
"One leap to reach the third floor, a single jump down to leave.…"
"Stop! Stop it!" Neal screamed, holding his head. "How can you answer my questions before I can even ask them?"
"Some vampires have specific gifts in addition to their special physical abilities. Mine is reading minds. I can read people's thoughts before they can even tell them. "
"Not sure I want to talk to you a lot then… "
"Then let me tell you my story."
Neal filled his glass. He felt he was going to need it.
"A few months ago, CNN advertised the chalice exhibition.…"
Forks – Cullen's living room – three months earlier
Carlisle sat down and put an old manuscript he had taken from the Cullen's huge library on his knees. Edward and Bella, sitting on the couch, were huddled together, like kids about to hear a fairy tale.
The text was old English, but Carlisle had read it so many times, translating it was quite easy. He started reading.
"Year 1150 – England – Journal of a Vampire by Nicholas Lockwood
For weeks, I have been roaming the forest around Camlann, in the plains of Salisbury, looking for a myth, a legend… Merlin, the magician, protector of good King Arthur.
I did write "magician". According to the books, he is, just like me, immortal, weeping for eternity for the King he couldn't save.
Yes, indeed, immortal. Who am I? I'll give you a few hints: I can run as fast as the wind, I do not breathe, I am cold as ice, I am made of people's worst nightmares…
My name is Nicholas; I am one hundred fifty years old. I am a vampire. Just like the ones in your legends and fairy tales, a being of the night, a blood drinker. I do, however, deviate from the myth. My diet is indeed made of blood, but of animal blood. I do not want to hurt humans. Oh no, quite the contrary actually.…
That's the reason I am haunting these woods, my own folly: I fell in love with a human female… Alyna… My angel, my soulmate, my forever loved-one.… We could be blessed with eternal love, but she doesn't want to be one of my kind. So I have one obsession: to become human again. To go back to my mortal life and end it by her side, to see our children grow.
I may have found the answer to that dilemma in the books; old, dusty, frail as sandcastles in the sun, pages that tell the story of the Britany islands and more specifically the reign of King Arthur and his lawful servant, Merlin. My hope lies on the shoulders of the one who is considered the greatest magician of all time. Sorcerers and vampires do exist; why not wizards?
His feats are so great that I feel, deep in my soul, that he has the power to help me. He is my only chance, my savior. But is he still alive? Arthur died in 542, in his thirties. Today, Merlin would be at least six hundred years old. Even in the world of vampires, I have never met someone so old. I do know some of them are, though. What about magicians?
It is said that Merlin haunts Camlann, crying on the place where, despite his infinite power, he couldn't protect his King. I too am now haunting the same places, trying to find him.
No trace so far. My gifts are quite useless in this forest. But I will not surrender.
1151 – Forest of Camlann
They say night is always darkest before dawn. I have been living in this forest for one year. The animals are used to my presence… it does make my hunting quite easier.
Then, when you think all hope is gone, the unexpected happens.
Let me tell you about my encounter with Merlin.
I was idle, sitting against a tree, when suddenly a shadow covered me.
"I heard that you were looking for me.… You have brought such disturbance to this forest, killed so many animals that they have told me about your presence. We bid you leave immediately; we do not want you upon these lands."
"Are you the one they call Merlin?" I asked, rising up eagerly.
"Merlin… I haven't heard that name in quite a long time. Emrys… that is the name I am given now. Who are you? I cannot feel any life in you."
"My name is Nicholas, Nicholas Lockwood. I am a vampire."
"Leave and never come back! I have never heard anything good of your kind, bloody murderers.…"
"Merlin—forgive me, I mean Emrys—please let me prove you wrong. Let me tell you my story and why I am on these lands."
"Mmm… mmm…. I don't see why."
Merlin turned his back on me and almost left without giving me a chance to explain myself. Then he turned back.
"On the other hand, I have not had a long conversation with somebody in six hundred years. Maybe you can entertain me. Be aware that I will kill you in a second should you decide to attack me. Your strength and speed cannot compete with my magic. Follow me."
With these words, he turned around and took me to a cave where I told him my story, ending with the reason for my visit.
"Becoming human.… Impossible.… Magic—because it is magic you came for—cannot do anything for you. In the deepest memories of the Old Religion, the most powerful of magic, there is no such possibility. I cannot answer your demand."
I felt the earth opening under my feet. In a few words, he had destroyed all my hopes. Yet I tried again. I remembered my readings; I knew Merlin still felt guilty for the death of his King. A pure love greater than anything had seen its end in tragic circumstances. Touching such a scar might probably mean my death, but if I couldn't live with my beloved one, death seemed preferable.
"Emrys, have you never tried something crazy, exceptional, dangerous for someone you love? Because it is love that made me start this quest, only love … and as a vampire, I am denied the one that has filled my heart."
Despite my words, Emrys left without looking at me, leaving me alone in my despair. My fine hearing caught these few words, 'love doesn't forestall failure,' as he disappeared as a shadow.
I remained in the cave for days, unmoving, not eating. The irony was that I couldn't die anyway. Why would I go back home? I had to let her live her life. Maybe she could find love again. I could be happy knowing she was happy even if not by my side. I do love her enough to wish her to find love with another.…
Sitting against the rock walls, I observed the forest. Hunger was starting to be strong, but I didn't feel like moving. Then a weird smoke engulfed me and Emrys' voice invited me to go deeper into the cave, guiding me into the dark.
I found an incredible place at the end of a maze. Shelves full of books, hundreds of vials, mixed objects scattered around by the dozens, relics going back to the beginning of the world. In the middle of it, Emrys was reading at least three books at the same time. It looked like he was reading some sections again and again, mumbling incredibly quickly.
I only understood a couple of words: chalice, blood.… The other words seemed to belong to a language I did not understand.
Merlin—Emrys—suddenly talked to me.
"You still want to be a human being, Nicholas?"
"More than ever. I thought you could not help me."
"I may have found a way.… These very old books allude to spells that, properly combined, may be the solution to your becoming human. It has never been done before; I cannot foretell the result."
"I am willing to take any risk."
"Then go back to your home—"
"I don't understand; you just said—"
"… and come back with your maiden. We will do this in this cave. I want to be able to control the events should anything unexpected arise. I will see you in three days under the oak where I first found you. I am sure you will find it."
Needless to say that I flew out of that cave. Alyna agreed to follow me. And here is what happened.
When we came back, Emrys took a wonderful stone from a casket; it was an emerald green I had never seen before. I later found out it was jade. He took it in his hands, held it high and pronounced a rhyme in that unknown language. His eyes glowed yellow and the stone turned into the shape of a cup.
Alyna was watching him, her eyes wide open, but quiet by my side. Can you imagine? A human female who loved and lived with a vampire—a vampire she had followed into a deep legendary forest—was meeting a magician. Others would have fled a long time ago, but not my beloved one.…
Then, for what seemed hours, Emrys kept saying thousands of words, still holding the cup in his hands. Once again his eyes glowed in that special yellow light. Some words appeared on the rim of the cup.
'Beclyppe Hinne idese Haest heo hine lyste'
"Which roughly translated means, 'He who drinks of me, will drink love, and will be fully human'" the magician explained.
He then turned to Alyna and made a weird request. He asked for a drop of her blood. A stupefying reaction happened when the blood touched the stone: the single drop grew to fill the whole cup. Magic. Merlin did deserve his reputation.
Emrys gave the cup to me, indicating with his head that I should drink it. I drank the blood without a moment of hesitation.
I wrote these words, therefore I am alive. Am I still a vampire or did I finally become human? That secret I must keep.
We kept the cup—its shape, a chalice, seems quite fitting now—it lies on a shelf, at home, a trinket, like so many others gathered from our journeys.
What about the magician, you wonder? The only promise he asked from us was to keep the location of the cave a secret. I would have loved to be able to thank him properly. I wonder if he still lives in the woods, if he ever got over his pain.…"
Carlisle remained silent a few moments, then raised his eyes to look at the young ones. Edward and Bella hadn't moved an inch since he had started reading. Edward was fascinated by the story.
"Carlisle, how did you get this? Have you ever tried to find the secret? Did he succeed?"
"Easy, son, I will answer your questions. I have one for you first: do you remember my father's business?"
"Yes, he was an Anglican preacher," Edward answered, a bit surprised by the question.
"The one less publicized, son; pay attention.…"
"Oh… you mean the part about the hunting of werewolves, witches and all kind of demons?"
Bella looked at them, her eyes wide open; she couldn't decide if the vampires were serious or not.
Carlisle smiled to her.
"Yes, Bella, in 1630 inLondon, my father was renowned for hunting all kinds of demons," Carlisle explained. "I mean, my real father, the one that gave me life, not the one that turned me into a vampire. Ironic, isn't it?" He turned to Edward. "He failed a lot but he also had a few victories; these allowed him to get quite a few of the books we have in our library, including this old manuscript and the chalice of jade."
"How could you keep that from me, Father?" Edward yelled as he rose. "You know some of us do not accept being vampires!"
"Listen to the whole story before you judge me," Carlisle said dryly, then went on with the tale. "My father got hold of the chalice and this journal when he killed Nicholas Lockwood in 1650, inLondon."
"So the magic didn't work?" Bella asked.
"It's more complicated than that," Carlisle explained. "The transformation did work. Nicholas became a human being again. He and Alyna lived happily and had two children. Their happiness, however, did not last. Ten years later, on an evening in November 1161, they came across a couple of vampires; that meeting was their doom. Alyna and the two children were bled to death. Despite his prayers to be killed, Nicholas was turned into a vampire again.
"During that second life, he turned out to be one of the most ruthless vampires of our history, driven mad by the loss of his wife and children, and by the fact that he was a vampire again. My father caught him by sheer luck in 1650. His mind cleared by his downfall, Nicholas told my father his story. He probably needed redemption. He explained to my father how to find his personal belongings, including his journal and the chalice. After he killed the vampire, as they had agreed, my father became the guardian of that secret.
"Unfortunately, it proved fateful; he was killed a few years later by a vampire. I became the protector of the secret and a new hunter of demons. I also fell upon the curse of the chalice. Volterra sent guards to stop me. They took quite a few of the documents and objects I possessed, including the chalice. I guess they thought they should punish me so they did not kill me; they left me alone to face my transformation into a vampire.
"Later, when I lived in Volterra, during my young vampire years, I managed to gather most of my father's belonging, including this journal," Carlisle said as he lovingly brushed the pages with his hand. "However, I never managed to find the chalice," he concluded with a dark voice.
"What an incredible story," Bella whispered. "It's as if this chalice was cursed. Every person that got close to it either died or turned into a vampire."
"That was what I was getting at, Bella. In our vampire lore, the chalice is indeed cursed. But not for the reasons you mention. It is cursed because it can turn vampires into human beings. That's the most dreadful atrocity most of our kind can envision. Many have tried to destroy it; no one has been able to… despite our incredible strength. It seems indestructible. That is the reason why the kings of our world decided to hide it in the deepest caves of Volterra. I was greatly surprised that it should appear now."
"Anyway, the cursed aspect aside, this chalice has enabled a vampire to become a human being," Edward concluded with enthusiasm; he was fascinated by this possibility to change his life.
"Yes, Edward," Carlisle answered. "But do not rush. That cup may have been created to change only one vampire."
"We won't know if we don't try; no use speculating," Edward retorted dryly. "I don't want to become human when Bella is fifty years old!"
"Edward, your father is right. Calm down," Bella countered. "Let's take a few days to decide what we want to do. Yes, I said we, because you have to hear me too. Need I remind you that you're the one who does not want to change me? I have been ready for a long time," Bella argued with a loving glance.
"As always, you are the voice of reason, my love. All right, let's think about this. Not too long though. The exhibition is getting close and we may never have a chance to get our hands on that chalice again."
New York, Neal's apartment
Edward stared at Neal. "That's the whole story, Neal.…"
"So, you didn't come to New York for the exhibition. You actually want to use the chalice to become a human being," Neal said, still dazed by what he had been told.
He looked at his glass, wondering if he had drunk some altered drink that had the power to change the story as Edward told it. The tale was way too incredible to be true.
"Just like Nicholas, I would do anything to live by Bella's side… a human life," Edward insisted.
"And to think that Peter thought I was crazy to escape prison only four months from the end of my sentence.…" Neal shook his head with a small laugh.If that wasn't love.…
"So you would let go of your eternal life? Many humans would give anything to be immortal," Neal bounced back.
"Because you don't know what it feels like to live the same things again and again! Let me give you an example: I was changed when I was seventeen years old. I keep going to high school again and again. Many high schools and colleges around the whole country; more diplomas than I care for: doctor, engineer, you name it. Never sleeping, never giving life.… I could go on forever. Believe me, a vampire's life is not that extraordinary. And remember, we are indeed monsters," Edward concluded.
"I guess from that point of view, you're probably right. Still, it must be cool to be able to make giant leaps, being super strong," Neal couldn't help insisting. He could picture himself getting in the greatest museums, stealing wonderful art, impossible to catch, the ultimate thief.…
"I could probably show you, if you want," Edward answered amused.
"Why not…? Still, there is something I do not get. Why are you telling me this, now?" Neal asked.
"When I met you at the exhibition, I couldn't help reading your mind. You were thinking so loud… especially checking the exits, casing security, how to get the pieces without being caught.…"
Neal couldn't help a wince. If Peter ever came across Edward, he wouldn't need a lie detector anymore… and he was going to have to be quite creative about some storage places around the world.
"I need your help to steal the chalice," Edward finally revealed.
"Excuse me?" Neal asked, totally aghast.
"As I told you earlier, since our meeting, I have been doing some research on you. Quite a story.… And if what I read is true, you can borrow the chalice without getting caught."
"Borrow?"
"I only want to use it to conduct the ceremony to be changed into a human, then I will give it back to the museum. That piece is far too valuable to be held in a private collection."
"If indeed you researched me, you do know that I cannot enter that museum." Neal lifted his pants leg to show the anklet. "As a friend said once, I flew too close to the sun; I now must pay the consequences."
"But you can still help me! Tell me how to do it. When I came here, I decided to just grab it and use my special skills to get out fast. But accidents can happen. I do not want anyone to get hurt. That is the reason why I told you I was a vampire even though keeping the secret about us is our most sacred rule. I thought that with your planning and my gifts, I should be able to take the chalice without getting caught or endangering anybody.
Neal sighed. Edward looked like he was about to beg. He could relate. The crazy stuff he had done for Kate... Love, the mightiest power of all.… Giving up immortality and superhuman powers for the love of a woman. He could indeed spend a few hours helping organize a heist.…
He smiled, eyes shining with pleasure. Now that he had made his decision, the rush of the game was on. The thrill linked to the preparation was already boiling in his blood. He had almost forgotten how good it felt. If Peter ever knew about this.…
"Good thing I have the best of alibis," he mumbled, casting a glance to his ankle.
Edward's eyes shone bright and a relieved smile came to his lips. He didn't have words to express his thanks, but the expression on his face spoke for him.
Neal smiled, moved by the vampire's feeling. He got up to grab a notebook from a drawer and asked Edward to sit down. He needed to prepare the theft.
"You'll need to go back to the exhibition; I can't go there unnoticed. Peter keeps a close eye on me. If he sees me going back there, he'll send me back to jail before asking questions."
Tuesday, Neal's apartment
Two short knocks on the door. Edward was on the threshold, with Bella.
"Good evening, Neal."
"Edward, what a nice surprise! Come in. You're lucky. My partner Peter just left a few minutes ago. Good thing you didn't meet him. If he saw you in the videos of the museum, you would be his prime suspect and I would be back in jail in no time."
"We saw him, so we waited for him to leave. I do not want to be seen by too many people. Neal, this is Bella."
"Come in, sit down. Bella, would you like a glass of wine?"
"No, thanks; a soda will be fine."
Neal gave Bella a soda and helped himself to another glass of wine. Edward was watching him in silence.
"I couldn't believe the stories I read about you. I never thought a human could be that good," Edward said, not hiding his admiration.
"What made you change your mind?" Neal asked.
"Apparently seeing me has triggered some old memories of your past… and of some of your feats…" Edward explained with a smile.
"Oh… of course." Neal winced. "You know, I'm not sure I enjoy the idea of your foraging through my brain…"
"I do not forage through your brain, Neal. That would be quite intrusive. But it is quite difficult for me not to listen to you, I must admit I am fascinated. Some of the cons you ran are pure genius."
"I can explain some stuff to you.…"
"No way!" Bella interrupted them. "I am worried enough with this theft. Please do not give him any ideas. With his brothers, they are always looking for dangerous stuff to do to spice up their vampire life."
"Sorry, Bella. We are being quite rude." Neal gave her his best charming smile. "Ignoring such a beautiful woman to talk about cons." He blinked and kept his eyes on her. "So, tell me about yourself.… Forks must be.…"
"Neal!" Edward yelled.
Neal looked at him, surprised by the tone.
"Bella and I are engaged!" Edward shot daggers with his eyes, clearly asking him to stop the seduction act.
Neal jumped, slightly ashamed.
"Oh, sorry… excuse me…. It's like a reflex… I didn't mean.…" He made a sorry face.
He took a gulp of wine to ease his embarrassment.
"Neal, how did you know Edward was a vampire? From what he told me, you found out almost immediately," Bella asked, curious.
Neal couldn't help a laugh.
"In my career, knowing your marks is key. I have a special gift of appraising people. Edward was.…" He looked for the proper word. "Let's say that he immediately raised a red flag on my radar. The way he moved at the museum, the fact that he wouldn't talk about the chalice although it was obvious that he knew a lot about it. I actually spent my Saturday afternoon researching the chalice. That's how I found out about Volterra."
"A legend.…" Bella corrected with a smile, remembering her own research when she had first known Edward.
"Yes, a legend. But don't all legends have some elements of truth?"
"Some secrets are best kept hidden in plain sight. Information is there, but no one pays attention," Edward confirmed.
"Still… offering your guest a glass of blood.…" Bella giggled.
Neal winced, not really proud of himself and brought the conversation back to the real reason for their visit.
"So, you went back to the museum?"
"Yes, I did, with Bella. We spent most of our afternoon there. Your observation skills are remarkable. The cameras, the blind spots, the safety exits, everything was right where you had said. I found out the best way in and out. Then I checked the glass casing protecting the chalice."
"Did you spot a wire, a black box, something that would hint to an alarm attached to the casing?"
"No, I didn't see anything like it. I think they are relying on the weight of the glass to protect the chalice. Its thickness is quite impressive. Still, there is something you did not see. Here, I took a picture, from as close as I could manage."
"Well done, Edward. You do seem to have a natural gift.…"
"Neal, please, do not encourage him," Bella complained.
Neal looked sheepish. Edward's gifts were so wonderful he couldn't help contemplate other thefts to run.
"Sorry, Bella. As regards to your picture, to put it in simple words, it's some sort of a scale with a silent alarm. It's triggered when the weight changes. A simple but effective alarm."
"Is there a way to bypass the trigger?"
"By replacing the chalice with an object of the same weight like Indiana Jones? Not really. It's not just about the weight, it's about the pressure. The weight needs to be kept constant, the slightest change and the alarm is triggered... Give me a second." Neal took a paper. "This is a map of the buildings around the museum. We could use your speed. Let's ignore the alarm. You take the chalice and run as fast as you can. Then, if you can jump from roof to roof fast enough before the security teams get there, that should do it. Of course, you're the only one who can do that."
"I'll go and check tonight, but I don't think that's a problem. The buildings look close enough for me to jump easily."
"Then I guess you're all set. Remember to dress in black, hide your appearance, particularly your hair, and use a hood. Your hair color is way too distinctive. The police would find you in no time by checking IDs at the airport entrances." Neal raised his glass in a toast. "Good luck. From now on, I don't want to hear about it anymore. I don't want to know when. The less I know about this, the better for me, especially if unfortunately the FBI is given the case."
"Is that possible?" Bella asked suddenly worried. "We wouldn't want you getting in trouble."
"No, that's highly improbable. Simple thefts are not our jurisdiction," Neal confidently soothed her.
"In any case, thank you very much. For your time, the risks you're taking. I am aware of it and I really hope we won't cause you any problem."
"Reminds me of the good old days.…" Neal sighed in regret. "I realize I'm breaking a lot of the ground rules we have with Peter. To tell you the truth I do feel a bit guilty; let's get this over with quickly so that the chalice goes back to the museum."
"Neal, how can I thank you?"
"Don't worry, really. Meeting a vampire, even though I still have trouble believing it, is quite the reward."
"Can we at least invite you for dinner before we leave?"
"I thought you didn't need to eat?"
"I can pretend, and Bella does need food. It could be a nice evening."
"All right then. Make it a table for four; I'll introduce you to my girlfriend Sara. We could do it this Thursday if you're free. Then we're leaving for a few days. My first vacation out of New York since… way too long."
"Perfect. I'll call you back to let you know the restaurant. By the way, we're staying at the Waldorf-Astoria, if you need anything."
"Well, well, pricy choice.…"
"When you have a sister that can read the future, it's easy to make the proper investments."
"Good night Neal. Thank you again. We will never forget your assistance."
"Good night, Bella. Thursday, we can enjoy a normal conversation. I saw that you were looking at my paintings. We could talk about art if you want to."
"With pleasure. See you on Thursday."
Neal closed the door and shook his head, still amazed by this surreal encounter with a vampire, surprised to be the one to help such a creature.
After a few minutes of musing, he remembered the planned weekend in the Catskills with Sara and he turned his computer on. A few minutes later, the reservation was confirmed and he sent the data to Sara.
His phone beeped almost instantly. He picked up the line with a smile.
"Hello, Santa's office.…"
"Is this a joke?"
"Nope. A gift from Peter."
"How did you convince him to let you leave New York?"
"My exemplary behavior."
Sara burst out laughing. "Can't wait, then."
"By the way, keep your evening free for me on Thursday. I would like you to meet some friends over dinner."
"Okay, good night.
"Good night, Sara."
End chapter 1
Note: Recognized the surprise character? Merlin, from the BBC show "Merlin".
TBC