Chapter 3: Legends

The wolves came quickly and the Cullens met them in the yard. I heard hisses, shouts, and growls as the Quileutes made at the the vampires. Carlisle's voice rang above them.

"Enough! Stop this!" he said, his voice calm but ringing with authority. The snarling stopped, the Cullen children backing off while the wolves advanced, jaws snapping. Sam must have ordered the same, because it fell silent. There was rustling before the human voices of the werewolves spoke, mostly cursing at the Cullens. Sam silenced them though, his voice firm and icy.

"You have broken the treaty; you have killed on our land," Sam accused them; the Cullens were met with astonishment, probably looking between themselves, wondering who had done what. Esme gasped and darted downstairs at the accusation, joining her family and leaving me alone. I made to get up, steadying myself briefly as Sam continued.

"Ten people have been found, their bodies mangled and drained of blood. You have violated the treaty and killed our people," Sam's voice was now strained, angered but trying to maintain some control, though even I could tell he was vibrating by the way his voice shook. I stopped at the top of the stairs, peering down as Carlisle worked to deny the claims. The wolves weren't having it though and Paul, in particular, made a snap at Alice, which Jasper defended her, growling dangerously.

"Enough with this, Sam. Kill them! As they have killed our own!" Paul growled as his frame shuddered, trying to keep from phasing. I descended but no one noticed, the wolves' eyes focused on the vampires and vice versa. You couldn't cut the tension with a knife.

"If you're going to insist on persecuting them, you may want to find some real evidence, rather than just throwing around accusations," I said coldly. All eyes turned to me, the wolves unhappy and the Cullens surprised and slightly concerned. Edward pulled me into his embrace and I let him hug me gently as I looked up at Sam.

"For a group of people whose supposed duty is to catch and kill vampires, you don't know much about them, except for what you want to know," I tell him cooly. His face hardened and I felt Edward pull me tighter to him. When Sam didn't reply, I continued.

"Look at their eyes, Sam. You should know as well as I do that vampires that drink human blood have red eyes. And yet," I make a gesture toward the Cullens, "all their eyes are still gold, not a trace of red in them. A little strange, don't you think? Unless they've figured a way to somehow mask their diet in their eye color."

The other werewolves were too masked in anger to consider my words. Sam, though, being the most controlled, absorbed what I was saying. I saw him take in the butterscotch hue of the Cullens' eyes, his brow furrowing, wanting revenge but knowing that the Cullens could not have committed the act. His eyes returned to me, looking me up and down. I met his gaze evenly.

"I know and you know that these types of vampires did not kill those people," I say firmly, my voice unconsciously taking on a new level of power. Sam's eyes squinted slightly, as he and the rest of our company took confusion at my choice of words; however, a mere moment passed before his eyes sparked as my words had the effect I intended on him. Sam backed down, much to everyone's confusion and the pack's aggravation.

"The Cullens are not at fault. They did not do this to our people," he declared to his pack, repeating my words almost exactly. The werewolves responded with sounds of defiance and anger.

"What the hell are you playing at, Sam?" Paul sneered, his frame shaking even more than before, if that was possible, "Their bodies were drained of blood, dammit! These leeches are guilty!"

"And that blind accusation is why I'm glad you are not Alpha," I commented. Paul snarled at me, taking a step toward me before Sam barked an order.

"Enough, Paul!" Sam's voice was firm, commanding. Paul obeyed, though his eyes remained on me. I met his gaze half-way, my face unfazed. Suddenly, both the vampires and werewolves halted as they heard tires coming up the long driveway. Both parties remained frozen until Jacob's familiar Rabbit came into view. Inside was Sue Clearwater and Billy Black. No one moved as Sue helped Billy into his wheelchair and they both moved briskly toward the gathering on the Cullen's front lawn.

"Sam is right, Paul. The Cullens did not do this to our people. There is only one kind of vampire that is capable of such acts." Billy stated grimly, his withering face on first his son and the werewolves and then the Cullens.

"I'm sorry, but what do you mean by 'kind of vampire'?" Jasper asked suddenly. There was a beat of silence, the entire company taking Billy's words into consideration before agreeing with Jasper, the werewolves rather begrudgingly. Billy sighed, before looking at me. I didn't return his stare.

"May we come into the house? This story is better told inside," Billy asked Carlisle politely, his eyes scanning the area around them hesitantly. Though puzzled and confused by the lack of hostility in Billy's tone, Carlisle agreed, more intrigued than anything else. The entire party went inside and took places in the living room. I joined Edward on the sofa. I fixed my eyes on a distant spot to make it seem as if I were in a daze. Both the werewolves and the vampires huddled slightly around Billy, most of their backs to me. Billy took a deep breath before starting, addressing the werewolves.

"When you first changed and became a member of the pack, the legends that you had been told as a child, of our ancestors, of the spirit warriors, of our history with the Cold Ones, they all became your history, instead of just mere bedtime stories. When you phased, you knew everything you had been told was all fact, right down to the appearance of your enemies."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, though no one saw but Billy.

"However, nothing was ever said in regard to how our ancestors first had the ability to speak with spirits and eventually become werewolves. That is because the version you have heard your entire life is not complete. The origins of our kind is much more complex…because it is interlaced with the history of an unknowing ally." Billy paused then, looking toward Carlisle and the Cullens. He took a deep, steadying breath before speaking.

"The even older history of the Quileutes overlaps with that of the vampires, the stories regarding the origin of your own kind," Billy finally said. Everyone in the room apart from Billy and I straightened slightly from shock and intrigue. Billy deliberately looked at Carlisle now.

"They"—pointing toward the werewolves— "have never heard the story about the origins of your kind," Billy said before continuing. "If you don't mind, would you mind telling it? We Quileutes have never heard the full vampiric story," he requested. Carlisle nodded slightly after a moment, clearing his throat unnecessarily before he began. The Cullens relaxed slightly in their positions, having already heard the story before. Carlisle's voice was still unsure as he began.

"The history of where vampires come from dates back many, many years; no one knows exactly how long ago, but further enough back that no one alive can remember it or recount it. A immeasurable amount of time ago, there was the first vampire that was ever brought into existence, and he was different than any vampire today; he was warm-blooded and stronger and faster than any vampire to ever live. But what made him so extraordinary was not his enhanced abilities but the great supernatural power he possessed, power which is the basis for the supernatural gifts of modern vampires. His gifts, though, were more powerful than the gifts of dozens of vampires combined. He lived a typical life among the humans, though they all feared him except for one human girl. She didn't shy away from him and, though he was innately alluring to his prey, she saw through the superficial beauty and charm down to his 'soul', as you may call it"—Edward and the other vampire children made faces at the mention of a vampire having a soul—"She knew he was different than any one else. He found his mate in her and she, who knew of the danger he posed, fell in love reciprocally."

I could feel Edward's eyes on me as that part was told, knowing he felt the similarities between the story and our situation. But I refused to look at him.

"They married and, one night, he asked her to become like him, that he knew he could make her like him, though he had never done it. He warned her that she had to give up everything in her life; she had to leave her family and life behind if she chose to become like him. She agreed, her love for him stronger than her ties to her human life. He changed her and she became equally as powerful, in both physical and metaphysical terms. They lived together and made more of their kind, but the new vampires were all different compared to the them. These were the first of the breed of vampires that live today, with rock-hard skin and cold-blooded bodies, making their skin freezing to the touch. There were many in the beginning, and the first vampire coven was formed, the interrelationships very close because of the shared venom between them at the hand of the first two vampires. The coven, including the first two, moved from place to place; and, though they were the prey, the humans they encountered saw their enhanced abilities and thought of them as gods, capable to give them happiness or despair depending on how they treated the vampires. The coven looked up to the first two as their leaders, who guided and instructed them, and soon the first vampire and his mate were believed to be vampiric royalty, as they were the first of the line of vampires, a line considered sacred because no vampire created was similar to the first vampire or his mate, whether in strength, speed, hearing, or in supernatural talents. The first vampire and his mate were given the name 'Sanralae' and were given a high level of protection by their coven, which lived contentedly with their 'king' and 'queen' for a time.

"However, their utopian life ended suddenly, and very tragically. A third breed of vampire was created, a breed more wicked and horrible than any vampire would ever think to be. This vampire was stronger and faster than all the vampires, as physically powerful as even the first vampire himself, and had a high level of intellectual slyness. He wanted to rule the vampire race as the Sanralae did and sought to kill them and take over. His strength and speed, along with his cunning, allowed him to nearly wipe out the entire vampire race. However, the Sanralae survived, hidden along with the few vampires that had been assigned to protect them. The coven was reduced from several dozen to a mere handful and the Sanralae. The survivors' familial ties with the lost devastated them; but most of all, they feared the new creature, who seemed to be unstoppable. The creature continued, unwavering, into human towns, killing hundreds of innocents and destroying countless villages in hours. Despite the creature's strength and other powers, the Sanralae refused to back down. The need for vengeance for the family they had lost led to the two going alone to find the creature. When they did, they destroyed it, their combined strengths superior enough to the creature's. However, the creature had already made others of its kind. The Sanralae and the last of its coven went after the newly created vampires, painstakingly destroying them one at a time. All the creatures were ultimately killed, but there were few vampires left, including the Sanralae.

"The Sanralae instructed the remaining vampires to disband and reproduce, but not in excess. They were instructed to allow the race to survive by scattering across the globe so that vampires could not be so easily wiped out. Above all, they were instructed to not reveal any details about the creation of the creature, but only warn of the destruction that accompanies its creation. The Sanralae feared that the draw of such extreme power, both physical and nonphysical, would be enticing for even the righteous of beings. The Sanralae disappeared, fearing the safety of the coven due to their presence. Without anyone knowing where the Sanralae were, the vampires were left with no option but to follow their leaders' orders. And that's what happened; the vampires continued to reproduce and the vampire race grew.

"With each passing generation, some vampires were found to have a certain gift, which marks a more direct tie to the original vampire coven, who all had supernatural talents because of the Sanralae's venom. As time went on, a gifted vampire spoke a prophecy that, one day, the Sanralae would have a child and this child, the offspring of the two most powerful vampires on Earth, would have even greater abilities than its parents, power beyond any vampire's imaginations."

Carlisle's story was met with silence from the others. The Cullens, all having heard the story before at least once, were merely impatient, waiting to hear the purpose behind the story telling. The werewolves mulled the story over in their heads, struck by how the vampire legends and their own were very similar in relation to the presence of lineage and also wondering where the legends converge on each other. Billy was the first to speak, his eyes slightly far away as he spoke.

"Thank you. I appreciate you telling your histories; it will make this next part more clear," he said before clearing his throat.

"The Quileutes tribe were initially all human, no more unique than any other human tribe that existed in their time. However, long ago, a vampire came into our village and befriended our ancestors. The Quileutes, like you say in your legend, saw the vampire as a 'god'. When the tribe encountered a deadly drought and people were starving to death, the vampire helped by giving some of her venom to some of the men and women in the tribe. The venom saved enough people and allowed our tribe to go on. However, the vampire gave us something much more precious. Because of her venom, we gained the ability to become spirit warriors and, subsequently, become shape-shifters. The Quileutes' abilities stem from the interaction of both species. Our ability to phase, our enhanced senses, the 'magic', as you may call it, in our genes, our spiritual heritage would not have existed without the vampires."

The story was again met with silence, but this time the room was filled with audible shock. The Cullens were as surprised as the werewolves, who were having a hard time grasping that their sworn enemy was actually the reason behind their life and who they were as a whole.

"If you know this part of the legend, why don't you tell the members of the pack once they change?" Esme asked. Billy met her gaze cautiously.

"Because it is rather difficult to explain to young werewolves the complexity of the situation. I say this because the vampire warned the Quileutes about the creature that your legend speaks of, and said that we must use our abilities to defend ourselves against them."

"But I thought the legend said that all these creatures were destroyed and the secret to their creation was never revealed. So how could they still be created if no one knew about them, let alone how to make them?" Seth asked. Billy was about to answer but Carlisle answered first.

"Actually, they were created again and are supposedly still existing today, in secret. According to the legend, none of the vampires of the original coven would have given away any secrets about how the transformation occurs; however, many believe that another 'accident' occurred, just like the first time, causing the transformation process to be revealed, but not to the entirety of the vampiric world, which is why most do not know of their real existence or the method of transformation. This is because many vampires were intrigued by the possibility of the power the transformation would bring but would stay quiet, sharing only with those that were also interested or who had already transformed themselves. It became like a cult, where only members knew the truth behind these creatures. However, no such group has ever been brought to light. Supposedly, though most vampires don't know or believe that these creatures exist, those that do either become one or work for them. There are even humans in such circles, hoping to be rewarded with being turned into one."

"So if the Sanralae have been gone for so long and vampires are spread out all over the world, what are these creatures working toward then?" Paul asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. The werewolves, though unwillingly, were interested in the vampire legends. Carlisle smiled slightly before answering.

"The child. The Heir of the Sanralae," he answered. The werewolves looked amongst each other, confused about the connection. Carlisle continued before they could ask.

"The Heir of the Sanralae is said to have extreme physical and supernatural power, power beyond its parents. The legend goes that the child would be strong enough to permanently eliminate this third breed of vampire from existence, once and for all. How, you ask? It is said that the creatures will expose themselves to the vampire world, and perhaps even the human world, more powerful than the original creatures in such high, strong numbers. The creatures will be unstoppable, but the Heir, with its unparalleled abilities, would allow for complete extinction of the creatures, as its parents did a long time ago, eliminating the world of 'evil'."

"The ancient Quileutes," Billy said, "were told of the legend of the Heir and they swore that they would protect the child, if and when he or she was born."

"Likewise, according to the vampire story, the Sanralae kept in close contact with the original vampires even after their disappearance, but in complete secret. These vampires, which still felt the need to protect the Sanralae, created an secret order specifically designed to work for and protect the Sanralae, to this day. The order is a secret society that is interwoven into all aspects of the vampire world, its sole mission to protect the Sanralae and the Heir, should the prophecy come true. However, as generations of vampires went on and neither the Sanralae nor the heir revealed themselves, the newer vampires, who had only heard about it through the telling of the stories, began to scoff at the truth behind it and story became merely legend and folklore."

"Which is exactly was it is," Rosalie said, rolling her eyes. Everyone looked at her, to which she responded, "Come on. It's obvious it's made up. Vampires cannot have children. That's part of the definition of being a vampire."

"According to the legend, that's part of what makes the child so special. Initially, because vampires are, 'by definition' as you say, sterile, the vampires did not believe that the prophecy could actually come true. It is accepted that part of being a vampire is his/her sterility, a fact that has been key in the debate of the 'naturality' of vampires. The birth of the heir would go against all established facts of vampirism and, thus, turn the vampire world upside down. Not only that, but the child would prove the existence of what some might call 'magic'." Carlisle countered. Rosalie scoffed, disbelievingly.

"I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the story time, but why is all this being brought up? It's old news as far as to mature vampires; everyone hears the story at least once in their life," Jasper asked. The other Cullens, minus Carlisle, nod slightly in agreement. Billy looked to Carlisle questioningly. Billy again clears his throat before speaking, his voice suddenly holding an edge.

"Do you believe in the legends?" he asked bluntly. Carlisle replied swiftly, having had to answer this question a few times in his three hundred years.

"I believe it may be possible. There is no proof to any of it or of the concept of two vampires conceiving and having a ch—" Billy interrupted then.

"I am not asking if you believe in the facts. I'm asking if you believe in the legends." Carlisle paused for a moment, reflecting. The other Cullens, as well as the werewolves, watched him as he deliberated, curious about the answer of the eldest member present.

"Asking such a question does not bear a simple answer. It is the same as asking a human if they believe what is in the Bible. The things that have said to have occurred, and that will occur, is an area where you debate between what your eyes and brain are telling you, what you know is real, and accepting what you have never experienced. However…" he paused before continuing, "I want to believe the stories are real. Such things are incredible beyond comprehension. It would give me solace in my own existence and in what I do not understand. In a simple 'yes' or 'no', there is no such thing for this question as it is a hard concept to grasp. But I do know that I do hope for them to be true."

Billy nodded, accepting the answer. The others, both the vampires and the werewolves, mulled over Carlisle's answer, mentally taking their own stances.

"However…" Carlisle suddenly continued.

"A few old friends of mine which I have been in contact in are avid believers in the accuracy of the legends. And recently they have told me that there has been a stirring, in both the secret order and those who believe in it."

"A stirring of what, exactly?" Edward asked. Carlisle had not shared this with the rest of the Cullens and, thus, they leaned forward at the new information.

"There have been rumors that there has been a movement; something has changed. No one knows what it is, whether it is in favor of the legends or not. All they think is that something has happened to make the scale sway one way or the other," Carlisle replied. Billy nodded.

"Our Council has heard such things too, with our communicators in other areas. However, I believe that the scales have tipped even more so after what has happened tonight."

"What do you know?" Carlisle asked, curious, as was everyone else. Everyone leaned forward infinitesimally in anticipation. Billy paused, his eyes narrowing sightly.

"I have reason to believe that, these creatures you speak of, have just killed ten people on our reservation."

No one moved.

No one spoke.

No one did anything, except take it in.

Take in the idea that the legends that they have just heard, that have been carried down for generation upon generation, may be as true as the recollections in the newspaper, and that these legends, if they be true, bring both extreme hope and extreme horror along with them.

And, right now, the horror may only be a few miles away.

Hi guys! Sorry this took forever!

I've been warring with myself for days on end on how I wanted this chapter to go and I finally got to where I'm satisfied with it. I cannot wait until the subsequent chapters as they are my upcoming favorites. But I couldn't write them until this was done.

Hope you guys enjoy! Please favorite and review! It keeps me going, especially when I hear and see that people actually enjoy this story and others! I will posting another AN on Miracle of Love and my other stories to promote this story because I absolutely love it since I have it all planned out!

Okay, I'm done talking. Might post again before the end of this weekend :)

Love you all!

~Melinda :)