"I'm home!" I called as I walked into the house.
I took my shoes off at the doorway while placing them neatly next to Diana's. After being in the military for so long, she picked up some very neat habits, which I followed since I didn't want to suffer the consequences.
"I'm in the living room!" Diana called back to me.
After hanging my jacket on one of the hooks along the wall, I walked into the living room to see Diana unpacking some more things we couldn't take care of last night. In fact, I'm sure we'll be unpacking here and there for a while. She was setting up a few pictures on one of the couch end tables as I leaned against the wall. She paused in what she was doing to look over at me.
"How was school, Mena?" She asked me looking excited to know.
I sighed trying to think of something good to say about the place, but I couldn't really do that since I hate schools of any kind.
"It was school." I finally said. "I met a few classmates. Resisted hurting almost all of them, which should be proud of me for doing. I'm telling you, Mom, there are these two guys in my class just begging for some correctional punishment."
Diana snorted in amusement as she got to her feet while moving the now empty box out of the way.
"You'll find out, Sweetie, most boys are asking for correctional punishment." Diana told me as she walked over to give my chin an affectionate squeeze. "Even your father asked for it daily."
I smiled because I liked hearing my mom talk about her time with my dad. She rarely did so since she still swears up and down that she's glad that there fling was over because she was tired of dealing with his ugly mug. But I know deep down she loves him dearly since there are plenty of times I catch her looking dreamily out the window as if she's reminiscing all the loving times they shared together.
"Just try to resist the urge to give it to them." Diana said. "I want you to do well in this school, Mena. Very well then go off to college somewhere. Whether it be West Point, some other military school, or even a regular college. I just want a bright future for you."
"Yes, ma'am." I said nodding.
Diana put her arm around me to place a kiss on my brow before she went to grab another box to start unloading. I didn't have it in my heart to tell her that I wasn't even sure about West Point. I only said I'd go to school, and then joined the military academy, so to ease her mind because I know she worries. I mean, what kind of normal life can I have when I don't age like everyone around me? Eventually people will notice how I remain looking seventeen no matter how many years that pass. I'll never be able to stay in one place for long ever again. I'll just have to become a drifter. Only staying in one place for a short amount of time. I just didn't know how to tell her that.
I figure around my graduation would be a good time if I can hold it off that long. Until then I'll try to make good grades and stay out of trouble. But even that's asking a lot. I mentally shook my head before looking back to Diana as she hummed while unpacking.
"Mom, if you don't need me, I'm going to go upstairs to start on my homework." I said getting her attention.
"Okay, Mena." She said. "That's probably a good idea because your grandma Ellis, uncle Billy, and cousin Jacob will be here later to see us. Best to get it down before they arrive."
I nodded my head then started up the steps towards the loft knowing I needed to get things done. I'll probably call that friend of mine too, so to get answers on the Cullens and their oddly golden colored eyes. Though I feel as if I should already know these things.
NO POV:
Jasper sat with his family discussing the arrival of Filomena Black and Isabelle Swan since they've both created such a stir amongst the family. For Mena it was to be expected since they've been waiting for her to arrive for so long. Jasper has been especially anxious for her arrival.
"They're both a danger to us." Rosalie insisted.
Jasper shot his twin sister with a glare and a frown since he was tired of her saying that. She's been saying it all through the meeting after all, and he only has so much patience. Alice, who like his best friend and the one sitting next to him, reached out to pat his hand knowing he was getting annoyed. Jasper thought Edward, who had run of to Alaska, was almost lucky since he didn't have to deal with Rosalie at the moment.
"We should end them." Rosalie added. "Before we're exposed."
Her words brought a sharp snarl from Jasper, which had everyone in the family stiffening. They knew how Jasper was when his protective side kicked in coupled with him losing his temper.
"You even look at Mena with malice, Rosalie, and I will remove your eyes." Jasper hissed.
Everyone knew he was being 100% serious, which had Emmett stepping closer to his mate. Emmett didn't want to fight his adoptive brother, but he would to protect his Rosalie. Of course, as a mate, Emmett could understand where Jasper was coming from, so Emmett couldn't be mad at him or being so protective.
"Let's all try to calm down." Jonas said calmly. "There's no reason to be so worked up over these humans. Especially Filomena. She is to be Jasper's mate after all, Rosalie. And if I recall, Emmett was human when you first met him even if it was for such a brief time."
Rosalie narrowed her eyes at Jonas with a hiss already building up inside her throat. Jonas didn't seem too worried as he continued to sit next to Alice in a relaxed position.
"Now as for the Swan girl," Jonas continued. "She has done us no harm. Making her innocent, and I believe the reason we all choose the vegetarian lifestyle was so not to hurt the innocent. Just because Edward finds her blood so appealing, doesn't mean we have to harm her. This could be a good challenge and lesson for Edward to gain more tolerability around humans and their blood. I went through the same thing as he is now, and here I am without having spilled the blood of the one who had blood that sang out to me all those years ago."
Jonas has lived many long years. In fact, he is the second eldest in the entire family, and over the centuries he has met many tempting morsels. However, he had resisted temptation every time, and views himself stronger for it.
"Not everyone has the same tolerance as you and Carlisle." Rosalie pointed out. "Besides, you have more years practice as resisting the call for human blood than Edward."
"That's an irrelevant argument." Jonas retorted. "Age means nothing when it comes to tolerance. What counts is the strength and will of the vampire. If Edward has enough will to keep committed to our way of life, he will have no problem in resisting the Swan girl's blood."
Rosalie frowned because she saw the others seemed to silently agree with Jonas.
"Besides, I've started having visions of Bella as well." Alice said. "Just like Mena, she will be joining out family."
Rosalie wanted to protest since she didn't see how two humans could possibly be part of their family. Before she could utter another word, however, Carlisle spoke up.
"Rosalie, Jasper has been waiting for his mate for sixty years." Carlisle said. "He has finally found her. No harm will come to her from any of us because she will be our family."
Rosalie hissed unhappily because she didn't understand why her family was so concerned with the lives of mortals.
"As for Isabella Swan, we will await Edward's return before making any final decisions." Carlisle said. "But in the end no harm will come to either girl as long as it can be helped."
Without another word, Rosalie zoomed upstairs to the bedroom she shared with Emmett to slam the door shut rather loudly.
FILOMENA'S POV:
"That's rich!" An image of Circe—daughter of Athena—said as she let out a laugh. "You haven't even been gone from camp two weeks, and you've already run into vampires!"
I frowned at the blond as her image did a completely 360 as if she was sitting in a rotating chair, which was highly possible.
"Keep your voice down, will ya?" I asked her. "I don't want the entire town hearing about this."
Circe continued to chuckle, but she did nod her head as she cleared her throat slightly. I shook my head at her while looking back to my alphabet soup looking English homework. Was it too hard to ask to get a few books in Greek?
"Sorry." She said. "I just find that extremely funny."
I rolled my eyes because I didn't though wasn't surprised that she did. Even as a daughter of Athena, she had the personality similar to that of the Stoll brothers who were sons of Hermes.
"Anyway, you called to see if the Cullens were vampires, right?" She asked. "And what class?"
I nodded my head because I needed to know what I was up against. Most people think a vampire is a vampire no matter how you slice it, but that isn't true. There are multiple classes of creatures out in the world. And they're not all classed by how long their species have been around. More like they're classed on how strong they are, how intelligent they are, and how well they can blend in amongst the humans.
"You are a monster expert." I said to Circe. "You and Rhea make your lives on hunting monsters every day, so I thought you two would be the ones to ask."
"Yes, that is a logical idea." Circe said. "Unfortunately, Rhea is off doing research out in the field while I'm stuck in a motel room staring at website after website for clues of what we're dealing with."
She pouted a bit as she said this, which had me rolling my eyes again though I said nothing.
"But anyway," Circe said. "Back to your vampire problem. If they really are extremely pale—like porcelain pale—, with an ice cold touch, and gold eyes, I'd say they're class five vampires."
Class five, huh? Well, they were still certainly dangerous, but considering they're not higher up I'd say it's much harder for them to just blend with humans. A way to rank how dangerous a vampire is is by how well they blend in amongst the mortals. Because it makes them harder to spot in a crowd for someone like me who even has a sixth sense about these things. And because it makes it easier for them to get close to their prey. They also must not be able to use any of those hypnotizing tricks that higher class vampires are capable of. However, class five vamps sometimes develop unique gifts. It's rare amongst their kind, but very possible.
"But usually class five vampires have red eyes." Circe said interrupting my thoughts. "If they have golden eyes it means they've chosen a different diet. Like animal blood diet."
This was all starting to sound more familiar to me. Why did I have a feeling that I already knew these things? And why where the Cullens' family so familiar to me in the first place?
"But like all vampires with morals, they can slip." Circe said. "Especially class five ones because once they smell spilt blood, they become like sharks in a frenzy. Can't control their instincts once it happens, which means if any other humans happen to be in a close enough radius when this happens—!"
"They'll become dinner too." I finished.
Circe nodded her head as I frowned slightly. This had me wondering what I should do. Should I kill their entire clan before any harm could come to the people of this town? Or leave them be because they're obviously trying to live peacefully.
"If you want my advice, leave them be for now." Circe said getting me to look at her. "They're haven't caused any harm to anyone there that you know of, and as long as no one's getting hurt, they have a right to try and live their lives just as much as the rest of us."
This was one of the very rare times Circe has become serious, and usually when Circe becomes serious, not just me but everyone who knows her knows to listen.
"Right." I said nodding before picking up the sound of someone coming. "Well, someone's heading this way, and it isn't my mom based on the footsteps."
"Say no more." Circe said smiling then dropped the reading glasses that had been on top her head onto her nose again. "I have to get back to work anyway. But, Mena, if you're really serious about finishing school as you seem to be,"
She paused to gesture to the books laying on top of my bed, which she had spread out and open.
"I'll try to send you a pair of these." She said while pointing to her glasses. "Annabeth and I made these after looking through you-know-who's-and I'm not talking about Voldemort-laptop and notes. They're special glasses that make it easier for dyslexics like us to read without the words swimming like alphabet soup because it puts the words into Greek."
"Thanks, Cirry," I said. "I could use them. I'm getting a headache already."
Circe chuckled nodding her head because she disappeared in a wisp of smoke just as the door in my room was starting to open. As if opened completely, I saw my cousin—Jacob Black—standing in the doorway.
"Hey, cuz." He said grinning.
"Runt." I replied while hopping off my bed with my books forgotten.
I went up to give him a hug, and he hugged me in return with his head resting against mine. He's gotten a lot taller since I last saw him. Not the same old runt who used to follow me and his sisters around when we played together as children. We mostly played wolf pack with Rebecca and Rachel arguing over who was alpha. Jacob was always the runt, and even if I let the twins argue over who was in charge, I was obviously top dog.
"I'm not a runt anymore, Fil." Jacob said as he let go while using the nickname only members of our family—which includes the entire Quileute tribe on the reservation—are permitted to use.
Well, them and…Marcel, but when he had first started using it, I always punched his arm, hard.
"Just because you're taller than me now doesn't mean you've suddenly lost your title as runt." I told him as I crossed my arms over my chest. "You want to lose it, you have to show me you're fit to climb the ranks."
Jacob snorted rolling his eyes, but a part of me was being serious. It was how I ran the Ares cabin when I was head councilor. I was smaller than all my siblings. I literally looked like the runt because I was short and weighed so little. People didn't expect much from me when I first arrived. However, I soon showed I wasn't just fit to be respected as all the others, but I was fit to lead our cabin. I had to fight hard to prove my worth, and gain the respect of my siblings.
"Seriously?" He asked.
"Seriously." I replied. "Now let's go downstairs. I need to greet uncle Billy and Grandma Ellis."
Jacob nodded before following me from the loft down the staircase to reach the first floor. We made it to the bottom to see Diana hugging Ellis as Billy sat in his wheelchair smiling. He noticed Jacob and me first with that family grin of his appearing on his face.
"Mena, you've grown." He said.
His words had Ellis whirling around to look at me with a big happy smile pulling across her face.
"Mena!" She exclaimed before hurrying over to me to bring her into my arms.
She hugged me tightly, and even if she was mortal, I felt as if my ribs might crack.
"It's good to see you two, Grandma." I said as I hugged her back. "It's been a while."
It really has since I went completely MIA there for a little while since things were so bad a camp and the war getting so close that all head councilors needed to be in contact with each other at like all times. Though there was that point where Kronos incapacitated us for a bit, which made it impossible for us to help the younger campers. I didn't even tell my mom about that one when she wanted an explanation for all that happened while I was away.
"Too long, sweetheart." Ellis said as she pulled back. "You've turned into such a beautiful young woman."
She gently pinched my cheek as she said that, which got a snicker from Jacob. I didn't react to his snickering at first, but once Ellis went with mom to help prepare for dinner, I slugged his arm really hard. He yelped rubbing his arm as I didn't even try to hid my smirk. Billy chuckled at the pair of us as Jacob threw me a glare.
"Love tap." I said still smirking.
"Like hell it was." Jacob retorted.
After dinner was over with, I helped Diana and Ellis with the dishes as Jacob and Billy remained sitting at the table. Apparently only women could do dishes, which I find completely sexist.
"So, Mena, how was your first day of school?" Billy asked conversationally.
I lightly shrugged as I took put away some of the dishes that had already been washed and dried.
"It was school, so obviously it was annoying." I said. "And the kids there are weird. There was this one guy who followed Bella Swan and me around after we met him in gym class. He wouldn't stop talking either. He reminds me of a yappy puppy looking for attention."
However, puppies are actually cute unlike Mike. I could never hurt a puppy, but I have no qualms against hurting Mike. So if yappy Mikey keeps it up, I'll be sending him to the nurse's office. Billy chuckled though I could see a somewhat of a serious look in his eyes as the dishes were finished. Ellis joined her son and grandson at the kitchen table as Diana remained standing with me near the sink.
"And did you run into any of the Cullens?" Billy asked me.
Jacob groaned shaking his head at Billy as Ellis was looking at me in concern. As if she was afraid my answer would be yes. Why would they care if I met the Cullens? I mean—I mentally gasped while realizing why the Cullens and golden-eyed vampires seemed so familiar to me. I can't believe I forgot about all the old stories Billy used to tell us about how our tribe made a pack with a clan of vampires—golden-eyed vampires—the Cullens. I then mentally shook myself, so to answer Billy.
"I have class with Edward Cullen," I said casually. "And before that class, his siblings had lunch the same time I did. I even spoke to some of them when I returned a binder Edward had left in class."
I said all this like it wasn't a big deal, but Billy frowned before exchanging a glance with Ellis. I heard Diana lightly sigh next to me, which had me turning to look at her. She met my gaze while rolling her eyes and shaking her head, which had me biting back a chuckle. I knew Diana believed in the old legends, but I also knew she wasn't the type to judge people based completely on what they are.
"You should probably keep your distance from them, Mena." Billy said. "Just to be safe. "The Cullens…they're dangerous people."
"I'll take your word for it, Uncle Billy." I said. "But don't worry. I can handle myself."
I've survived this long after all. Besides, with this curse it wasn't like I could be killed anyway. So I'm not too worried about the Cullens. If they do become a threat, I'll end them. But if they're peaceful, I'll leave them be. It's all just a waiting game really. A game to see which side strikes first.
"You can't give this to me." I cried. "You have to take it back! I don't want it."
A weak chuckle came from the fading form in my arms as warm brown eyes looked up at me.
"Sorry, no returns, Filly." He said using the nickname I hated so much, but came to love hearing from him. "What's happened can't be undone. You know that."
I shook my head as I held Marcel even closer with his head resting against my shoulder as he was leaned into my knelt form. I brushed his hair back as the light grew dimmer in this eyes. Tears ran down my cheeks as I felt entirely helpless for the first time in my entire life.
"Please, don't cry." Marcel said to me gently. "This was my decision. And it was fate for me to die today. I'm just glad my death could mean something, and could help in this war. With what I've given you, you can change the tides of war to help everyone we love."
"But in doing so, I lose you." I said. "It isn't fair."
Marcel smiled the best he could as he reached up to place a hand over mine as it rested on his cheek.
"No, it isn't." Marcel said. "And I can't tell you how sorry I am to have cursed you like this, Beautiful. To have frozen you in place to leave you here to face so much peril alone. But I know you can make it, Fil. I know you can get through this because you are the strongest person I know. Now please, use what I have given you to fulfil the oath the fifteen of us made of the River Styx. And don't see it as a curse. See it as a gift. The last gift I can ever give you."
Marcel then let out his last breath, which had my eyes widening as the tears continued to flow.
"No!" I wailed in despair as I held his head to my chest. "No, come back! Don't leave me, Marcel! Please!"
"Mena, wake up! Mena—sweetheart—it's only a dream!"
I gasped with my eyes snapping open as I felt someone shaking me. I immediately shot up in bed while trying to scramble away from the invading arms. My heart pounded as my eyes finally landed on Diana who was sitting on the edge of my bed while holding up her arms in a defenseless manner. I took in harsh breaths while starting to realize I was in my room in Forks, Washington, and that I had only been dreaming. Dreaming a terribly awful dream of an old memory that has haunted me for so long.
"Sweetie," Diana started again while reaching towards me. "It's alright, Mena. It was just a dream."
She moved closer to put her arms around me, and I collapsed into her motherly embrace while letting out a pained sob. I hid my face in her shoulder while clenching the front of her shirt with my fingers as the curled into tight fists. She shushed me gently while stroking my hair.
"Was it of Marcel again?" She asked me softly.
I slightly nodded my head while not wanting to move from my hiding place against her shoulder. It made me feel weak, and feeling weak wasn't something a child of Ares enjoyed. I'm sure my father is mocking me this very instant. Not that I could blame him. I was a pathetic weakling right now who needed to pull her act together.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Diana asked.
I sighed while finally pulling away to wipe at my eyes to rid them of tears before shaking my head.
"No, no, I'm fine." I said. "I just need a moment…alone, please."
Diana didn't look sure at first, but she nodded her head before stepping away to leave me alone. She left my room, and once she was gone, I pulled my legs to my chest to bury my head in my knees. I let out a sob wishing things were different. Wishing he was alive and that I wasn't cursed. But like he told me…they were no returns.