Disclaimer: The Twilight series and surrounding enterprises are the sole property of Stephanie Meyer. I claim no ownership to the saga or its characters and am writing this story for the sole purpose of entertainment. Also, the lyrics used in this work are the sole property of the artists which wrote them as is the music that was written for those lyrics. I do not own any part of that enterprise either I merely use music as an inspirational background, or mood setting tool for my writings.
Copyright notice: While I do not own the Twilight series or its characters, the plot for "A New Dawn: Aurora", along with the characters Ulysses, Theron, Angel, Lucien, and others not already in the Twilight series are my personal intellectual property. I will not hesitate to report any infringement upon this copyright. Please be respectful and don't steal. Thank you.
A New Dawn: Aurora
Chapter 1: Rising Fog
Steam, like the icy tendrils of the spirit world, rose from the warm pavement beneath the silver Volvo as it raced down the narrow two-lane blacktop. The road between Forks and La Push was surrounded on all sides by dense forest, some of which we had not been allowed to tread upon since long before the treaty was forged.
'What the hell was Alice thinking? There's nothing out of the ordinary out here.' I groaned scanning the forest on both sides for any sign of a threat. I was glad that Bella and Renesmee were safe with the others.
I could hear Alice's sweet soprano voice ringing in my head. 'You're getting close, please be careful. I don't think Carlisle or Esme would appreciate you hurt and I know for a fact that Bella feels the same.' I had no more than rolled my eyes when something ahead caught my attention.
Jake stood just clear of the trees that bordered the oncoming lane. I could see he was injured though to what extent I was uncertain. I slammed on the brakes. The car fish-tailed as the tires fought for traction on the damp pavement. I pulled the steering wheel hard to the left, swinging the car around so that the passenger seat would be closest to him.
Turning into the skid, the car came to a screeching halt in the middle of the oncoming lane. I pushed the lever, rolling down the window. "Get in the car!" I hollered watching the woods directly in front of him. I couldn't see anything but the scent wafting through the air told me whatever they were, they weren't human and he was out numbered.
"Bite me bloodsucker! I can take care of myself." He snarled turning so that he could keep both directions in his line of sight.
"Get in the damn car you're out numbered." I hissed snarling toward the trees as one of what I realized were vampires after all, suddenly bolted forward. "Newborns, I hate newborns!"
He turned as the approaching newborn slammed into him. There was a momentary gnashing of teeth as he caught the vampire and lifted it forward and over his head. It landed with a deafening thud atop the car and rolled across and down onto the pavement. Another newborn followed and this time the impact sent Jake backward into the now open car door. I gave a loud hissing sigh—my patience had been tested beyond the safety level.
"Hang on!" I pushed the accelerator all the way to the floor, sending the car skidding and fish-tailing on the steaming pavement.
"You sorry excuse…" He started shoving my hand away as I reached to grab his shoulder to keep him from being thrown back onto the pavement as the car lunged forward. The forward momentum slammed the door shut leaving Jake and I trapped, for the time being, in tight quarters.
"What the hell brought you here and where's Bella?" He growled clutching his side.
"One of Alice's visions. Don't get all excited, Bella's safe with the others."
He turned a blazing glare on me. "Monitoring us now, are you afraid that we might come hunting you?" His snarling voice broke toward the end—a rarity for any member of the canine family, including werewolves.
I hissed, my own hard glare coming to focus on him briefly before returning to the road ahead. A rude comment formed on my lips but before I could respond to his acidity a sweet voice filled my thoughts.
'Edward, be nice to Jake. I don't want either of you hurt please.' Bella's soft pleading made me snap my jaws closed.
'Fine,' I consented, my irritation with Jake boiling over into my thoughts. 'Tell me again what it is you like about Jake, besides the fact that he managed to keep you from death while I was away?' Of course, there was no answer to my question either because the answer was plainly obvious or she just wasn't listening.
"I'm surprised you didn't get out and make friends, I mean after all they are bloodsuckers!"
I growled low under my breath, "Not my type," I muttered hoping the warning snarl would shut him up.
"Whatever!" He turned his attention to the trees as they whirled past his window. It wasn't until we closed in on the house that he turned his attention back to me. "If those bloodsuckers weren't the extended family from your little band, and you're not acquainted with them…" he paused as the crunching of tires upon the driveway distracted him, "then who are they?"
"We'll figure it out," I answered wishing I had one better to give him as I pulled the car to a stop in front of the house. "First, you're getting checked out by Carlisle and after the interrogation from the others, we'll work on an answer for your question."
"Edward gees," Bella rushed toward me as I allowed Emmett and Jasper to help Jake into the house. "Why didn't you tell me he was hurt?"
"Didn't seem important at the time," I answered taking her into my arms and running my hand over the top of Renesmee's head.
"You my dear are not the only one of importance here, Jake's important too." The sound of Esme clearing her throat put a damper on what was going to be a soft scolding of my sudden lack-luster opinion of Jake. We both turned.
"Edward, come into the kitchen please," Esme's voice was stern but harbored no anger only concern. I took Bella's hand and we followed her into the kitchen.
"So what exactly happened out there…besides the werewolf getting injured?" Alice asked from her place in Jasper's lap.
"Newborns happened. When you add that to the fact that Jake's personality goes beyond stubborn…"
"Edward Anthony Cullen, not funny," Bella scolded giving me a firm elbow to the ribcage, "Seriously, be nice to Jake."
I rolled my eyes and merely snarled at her before turning my attention back to both Alice and Esme. "I'm not sure how many there were but the ones that Jake dealt with before I forced him into the car were young…not over two months old."
"Newborns hmm, so who created them then?" Rose's rather snide sounding question interrupted the flow of the conversation enough to get everyone's undivided attention.
"If we knew the answer to that question then I don't think this conversation would be necessary." I snapped turning a cold glare in the direction of the doorway where Rose was standing.
"There are many questions that need answering. Edward, you and Rose stop your bickering there will be plenty of time for fighting." Carlisle's stern warning preceded him into the kitchen.
"Carlisle, is Jake okay?" Bella's sudden persistent concern for Jake was beginning to grate on my last nerve even though I knew that she had a valid reason.
"Bella, Jake is resting comfortably. His wounds are no longer life-threatening but he will need to rest for a few days in order for them to heal properly." Carlisle answered. "It will give us time to figure out the origin of those newborns and the reason for their presence."
"Why is it I'm getting a bad feeling about this," Bella mumbled pulling herself closer to me.
"At least with you it's only a feeling," Alice insisted massaging her temples.
"The Volturi show up here and Caius will be getting his ass kicked," Emmett's comment and obvious enthusiasm for a fight managed to get everyone snickering, even Carlisle.
"The Volturi have no reason to be creating a bunch of rogues and even if they did why would they send them here?" Rose sniped haughtily.
"Because they are the Volturi and there is no method to their obvious madness, duh!"
Esme shook her head at me and even though I knew I was bordering on trouble, I didn't really care. Rose had been acting blonde since I had returned and it was beginning to get very old. "Edward, can you and Rose at least try to get along?"
"Only in your dreams," Rose rolled her eyes and pointed one red painted dagger at me, "Stinking dogs," She hissed as she shoved past everyone.
"Jake and the pack have nothing to do with this Rose!" Bella retorted watching her as she exited the kitchen. She turned to me, her eyes giving away her internal thoughts and feelings. "What's her problem…besides the obvious?"
I shrugged and merely rolled my eyes, Emmett, on the other hand, just shivered.
Bella let out a heavy sigh, "Never mind, that answers my question."
"There didn't have to be an answer, you know," Alice muttered with a cringe. She covered her face then and tapped her forehead with her hand, "Bad mental picture, really, really bad." She peeked through her hands at Bella, "Thanks."
"Welcome, so…about those newborns?" That was one of the qualities that I loved about my wife, she could always find a way to change the subject.
"Did Jake say anything, Edward that might give us some clue as to where to begin?" Carlisle questioned his tone reiterating the fact that the situation harbored much danger.
"Other than blaming us for the presence of those newborns, no not really," I answered looking down at Bella's face. Her expression was one of confusion. "Jake is suspicious, he thinks we've broken the treaty."
"That damn treaty has been more trouble than it's been worth. I'd like to rip the head off of whoever came up with the lame idea in the first place." The comment had been the first words Jasper had spoken since the conversation had started; in fact I hadn't even noticed his presence until now.
"It served its purpose and now it's just an old excuse for the faint of heart." Esme added rather coldly. She looked over at Carlisle with understanding for she could see the pain and obvious fury deep in his eyes even if no one else was aware of it.
"The treaty must continue to be observed no matter what our thoughts about its creation are," Carlisle insisted his voice cold and haunted by some unseen memory. He was about to make a comment when Alice cleared her throat.
"I smell dog," she muttered pinching her nose in response to the musty scent now wafting through the house.
"The pack is here, they've probably gotten wind of Jake's injuries." Jasper answered the question that was about to form on Alice's lips.
"Bella…" My words were drowned out by the chorus of howling that now emanated from the front yard. I turned only to see her dart from the kitchen, "Wait, and let me come with you."
"Edward," Carlisle's hand firm against my shoulder briefly stopped my retreat from the kitchen, "Be civil. Bridges are a difficult thing to rebuild and we may need them before this is over." Our gazes met and locked briefly, his firm and fatherly, mine filled with ice and bit of irritation left over from Jake's searing comments. He held me there until I nodded in agreement and then he released his grip and allowed me to pass out of the kitchen.
"Quil, Embry, what…" Bella stopped when she noticed Leah supporting a very bloody Seth.
"It's not what you think, "Leah insisted her gaze shifting between Quil and Embry. "Sam's pissed yes, but he's not stupid. He won't injure us until Jake's out of the picture."
"Bloodsuckers," Seth hissed spitting blood that had collected in his mouth out onto the ground.
"Great, first Jake now you, oh…" She gasped as she noticed the presence of four previously unidentified wolves watching from the nearby tree line that bordered the yard.
"The numbers aren't in Sam's favor either," Leah glanced over her shoulder at the rest of what was now Jake's pack. "We managed to take out several but we were overwhelmed."
She nodded, "Carlisle!"
"Bella, what's…"My gaze focused on Seth and somehow I knew what had happened. I hate newborns! I moved to help Leah get Seth into the house. The wet dog smell is about to get much worse. This ought to really irritate Alice's nose. "Stick around guys, the party is just getting started."
"Bell," She turned at the sound of Embry's voice, "Is Jake okay?"
"Oh yeah, he's fine. Carlisle's the best."
"Sure, we just needed the reassurance."
"Of course, no problem," She smiled before retreating into the house. "Seth had better be okay, and before anyone asks it wasn't Sam."
"Those newborns," Jasper whispered, "They resonate with so much hatred, makes their actions no surprise really…but who's leading them and why?"
"I love a good mystery," Alice chimed in coming up from behind to put her arms around Jasper's waist, "Don't you?" He merely nodded stiffly.
"Bring Seth and follow me," Carlisle motioned to Leah and they were about to head toward the basement when he heard the noise of commotion coming from outside. He helped Seth to sit down on the sofa.
The new members of Jake's pack, along with Quil and Embry had taken up a defensive position; their backs to the house, all of them snarling and growling at the woods. "Great like we needed unsavory company," Rosalie muttered as we moved forward as one and began scanning the forest for some sign of intrusion.
"From the left Embry," Alice whispered coming out of a vision and nodding to both Embry and I, "Newborns." Her voice trailed as the creatures emerged from the woods, their leader crouching low in front of them.
"Bella, take Nessie back in the house," I growled shifting my weight and crouching next to Embry.
"But Edward I…"
"Go now!" I ordered wanting to provide safety at least temporarily to the both of them. At this moment it was more important for Nessie to have a mother rather than a father. I glanced back briefly hoping that my facial expression would squelch her argument. When our eyes met, she hesitated no further but merely did as I had asked.
Esme let out a gasp. I shifted my attention to the right to find another group of newborns just emerging from the tree line at the corner of the house. "Carlisle, right side," I hissed as he pushed forward to stand in front of our group.
"Talk first, no fighting unless we have no choice," he ordered as we tightened our ranks around him.
"Talk is cheap, revenge is what we seek." Their leader, without further warning sprung forward.
"Let the ass-kicking commence," Emmett snarled picking up the newborn closest to him and launching them into the air in the direction of the tree line.
"Nice," I wasn't close enough to follow his lead exactly but a good swift kick to the back of one of the newborns sent it skidding across the ground in the same direction. I turned, "Carlisle, look out!"
Their leader launched himself, fangs extended at Carlisle. The forward momentum sent both of them tumbling to the ground, gnashing and snarling as they rolled over each other in an attempt to obtain the advantage.
"Who…sent…you and why?" Carlisle hissed managing to pin the newborn leader under his own weight. He knew he wasn't near strong enough to contain him for long as the newborn had already began to squirm free of the hold.
"The time of Ulysses is coming," he flung Carlisle over his head as if he was a feather and bounded to his feet. Carlisle hit the ground and skidded to a stop against one of the nearby trees.
"Just who the hell is Ulysses anyway?" Embry snarled as members of the pack began surrounding some of the newborns near the tree line. He sank his teeth into the neck of one newborn and with a violent shake tore its head from its shoulders.
"Who knows, but he must be pretty damn important to these blood sucking monsters," Quil muttered as he ripped one newborn completely apart sending blood splattering everywhere.
"In that case, leave no witnesses," Embry mused showing his teeth to show his amusement at the thought. His comment received the same reaction in return and they moved as one into another mass of newborns.
"Vampires don't bounce." There was warm breath against Carlisle's face as he was carefully helped into a sitting position. There was snarling and horrible screeching as quick work was made of what sounded like a newborn that had made the mistake of getting too close. "Easy there, are you okay?"
He nodded, rubbing his side and the back of his neck. His vision finally focused on a silvery white female wolf standing protectively over him. "I am fine, just a bit bruised I think." He studied her for a brief moment amidst the swirling battle raging around them, "Thank you."
"No problem," She answered pulling him in behind her as Quil and Embry pushed two newborns in to close to the position that she was now guarding, "Newborns lack nothing when it comes to strength." She looked down at him, "You're Carlisle right?"
"Yes and…" He paused to study her again. "I haven't seen you before. You are new to the pack?
"Name's Angel, I've been with the pack only a few short months. I'm Seth's twin sister…" She kept her eyes focused on the still raging battle. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I will be fine," He assured, "A bit bruised and I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow but no major damage."
She gave a nod as several of the newborns took notice of her and Carlisle and moved in their direction. "Stay back, I will protect you this time but you must promise me one thing?" She snarled viciously as the foul scent of newborn vampire wafted into her nose. Her eyes met his, "Solve the mystery of Ulysses before these newborn hoards take over our lands and yours." With that she leapt forward to meet the attacking force head-on.
For several minutes, he was mesmerized by the powerful attack of this new female member of Jake's pack. She moved in a blur of motion like an arctic icicle falling through the snow laden air—swift, graceful but with deadly accuracy. He had been privilege to much information regarding the members of the Pack but he had never known that Seth had a twin sister—until now. She made quick work of the group of newborns that had so readily encroached upon what she considered her territory.
"Angel, how do you know about Ullysses?" Carlisle questioned as she turned to look back at him.
She gave a low snarl in response. "Death isn't a difficult scent to track. There has been much death on the air of late."
"Carlisle," Finally, I had managed to fight through the swarm of newborns to where he was sitting. Jasper had managed to corner the newborn leader a mere twenty feet from where I now stood. "Are you okay?" I received a warning snarl from the she-wolf who was aggressively guarding his position. Our gazes met and after a moment, she lowered her hackles as she recognized me for friend rather than foe.
"Fine," he answered his attention locked on Jasper's confrontation with the newborn leader.
'Careful Jas, he's no weakling,' Alice's voice rang like a bell in my head even though her warning wasn't for me specifically. The intensity with which the two battled had not only managed to put a halt to the overall skirmish but it had also drawn the attention of the remaining newborns as well. They kept vigil just inside the tree line, the proximity of the Pack keeping them at bay.
Jasper struggled just to gain control of a confrontation that had turned into a test of strength. A wrestling match of epic proportions. The newborn leader had uncanny speed and strength along with an intelligence level beyond that of ones I or my family had dealt with in the recent past.
I watched as he managed to gain enough leverage to pin his opponent if only briefly. His hold was tenuous at best as the other was already beginning to writhe free.
"The time of Ullysses has come," A vile snarl emanated from the other's throat. His fangs lengthened as he began to over-power Jasper.
"Money says he gets his ass kicked," Emmett and Embry were taking wagers and apparently Embry had very little faith in Jas' wrestling ability.
Emmett shook his head, "Right…whatever."
"This one has more brains than most newborn bloodsuckers. I thought Jasper was an expert when it came to battling newborns?"
"He is," I growled, "Your point?" I wasn't about to stand aside and allow a damn dog to make a mockery of Jasper or his fighting prowess.
"Get'em Jas!" Emmett's gaze was trained like a hawk on me. He could sense the nervous concern radiating from myself and Carlisle. He didn't have to ask to know that I was now bordering on action.
"Case and point," Embry chuckled, "Your expert is getting his ass whipped." He motioned toward the still raging confrontation. The newborn leader was basically free of Jasper's hold.
"Edward," Carlisle's grip against my shoulder, even before I began moving forward, halted my action. "This is Jasper's fight not yours." Injured or not, Carlisle was far from a weakling and not even I had the nerve to make waves when it came to a direct order.
"Shut your face, dog! Jasper ain't beat…" Emmett went to shove Embry.
"Jasper no!" The split resonance of Alice's bell-tone voice made ears ring and heads throb.
The newborn leader let off a hissing snarl and without warning sank his fangs into Jasper's upper arm. The shock from the bite was all the advantage he needed. In a blur of motion, he freed himself from Jasper's grip, utilized the forward momentum as Jasper's body dropped into his, and pushed him into the air. As if he was dropping a feather, he hurled Jasper across the yard.
There was a soggy but solid sounding crack as Jasper slammed back first midway up the trunk of one of huge Oak trees that bordered the yard. The force would have killed a mortal human.
As he slid down the trunk to the ground below, the newborn leader along with his company vanished. The only remnants of their presence were their scent and the left-over carnage that littered the yard.
I knelt down beside Jasper. "Shit," I cursed as his glassy gaze came to focus on me. It was obvious, even though he had not been knocked out by the impact that he was far from being fully aware. The bite on his arm was bleeding; the blood oozing forward dark and thick. The area around the fang marks had already turned an angry red and the fiery splotches were spreading fast, "Carlisle."
"Let's get him in the house." I helped Jasper to his feet while Carlisle kept pressure against the bite wound on his arm. He turned to the others, "Emmett, you and Rose help the members of Jake's pack with the clean-up." A warning finger moved to point at Rose, "Be civil. No bridges are to be burned as of yet, is that understood?!"
She nodded stiffly. Even one as bold as Rosalie was leery of disobeying Carlisle. There was a reason why he had once been an integral part of the Volturi and none of us really wanted to find out the details behind that reason.