6 months later

"Mothaigh mo ghrá, mo fuinnimh, lig dom tú a chothú, lig dom tú a neartú" Maggie was kneeling on the ground with her fingers buried in the dirt chanting a spell I had grown very familiar with.

During my stay I had learned many things about the sisters through watching, listening, and just outright asking. Maggie was a gifted earth witch. She was deeply connected with everything in nature. Right now she was bonding with her flowers, urging them to nourish themselves with her energy and love. I'd come to enjoy taking walks in the surrounding woods with her because it was an experience unlike anything I'd ever seen. The trees would seem to reach for her, caressing her with their leaves when she passed by a low hanging branch. Animals were unafraid of her, they would come close enough for her to run her fingers through their fur before they ran off to continue on with their day. It was incredible. I had never before encountered a witch that had connected with the earth itself. Of course that aspect of her power was pleasant but she also had the potential to present one hell of a challenge if someone were to provoke her. A human would stand no chance if they chose her as a target for a nefarious action. Between her ability to summon vines at will and cause the ground to literally open up beneath your feet she was more than capable of defending herself. Other beings would present a greater challenge since she had no previous experience with them but after our daily sparring sessions that we'd decided on out of sheer boredom, she became a difficult adversary. Maggie's ability to conjure fire with a whispered word would be very helpful if Aro's trackers came back for me.

"You know your life would be a hell of a lot more exciting if you spent half of the time you spend talking to plants trying to find a man." Ileana laid on a woven blanket in a vibrant blue and purple bikini, sunglasses hiding the mischievous twinkle I knew was present in her sparkling blue eyes.

"My plants are much smarter than the men you waste your time with. I think I'll stick to my roses." I watched as a little bud bloomed happily before my eyes. What was once a tightly closed rosebud was now a bright, blood red rose.

Ileana scoffed as she flipped over on her stomach. "It's not my mind that needs stimulation, sister." She said as she wiggled her hips suggestively.

Maggie rolled her eyes but a soft blush covered her cheeks.

This was what I'd been missing without even knowing it. Being able to listen to playful banter while relaxing in the sun. For years I had spent my life running from town to town trying to stay under the radar. Never making deep connections, no family, no friends. I was basically homeless with no one.

Not anymore, Soare. You have friends who have become your family.

"I know, Gran."

At hearing my whisper, Maggie looked up from her flowers. "What did you say Bella?"

"Oh nothing. I just got lost in thought. I guess I just spoke to myself by accident."

That was the only guilt that she still carried. She still lied. She lied by omission. These two women had trusted her, showed her their talents, let her live in their home, and yet she had not been as open. She had still not yet told them of the true reason behind Aro's obsessive hunt for her.

Tell them, Soare. They will not turn you away.

That's exactly what was holding her back and Gran knew it. She was so afraid that once they found out they would realize the danger that they were in by having her there and force her to leave.

This was the first place in a long time that had felt like she might be able to call it home and she didn't want to let it go.

I closed my eyes letting the sun warm my skin as I breathed in the sweet scent of Maggie's fragrant flowers.

No. Not yet. Just a little longer.

"Bella." My body jolted as I felt someone shake my arm. Ileana stood over me, the setting sun creating a shining halo around her dark hair. "We're heading inside. I'm pretty sure you don't want to sleep out here all night. I can't imagine the things that would try to crawl into your orifices." Than thought made me sit bolt upright and shudder.

"Thanks for that, Lea. Now I'm going to be thinking about that when I lay down inside too."

"Who knows, maybe it's about time you had something try to get in your orifices." Ileana giggled as I bumped her with my shoulder, my face was glowing so red it felt like it was on fire.

I let one thing slip after a night of a little too much wine and I'll never hear the end of it.

Even in these playful easy moments I still felt heavy with guilt. My brain still focused on preventing my secrets from being revealed. Always careful to avoid skin to skin contact with anyone if I could help it.

Bang!

My train of thought was cut off by a loud explosion that rocked the ground causing me to stumble against the rough stone wall of the house. Ileana and Maggie came running out of the door both wearing looks of panic.

"What's going on?" I asked but a part of me already knew the answer. This was inevitable. All good things had to come to an end.

"Something is trying to breach the property ward." Another loud explosion rocked the ground.

"Mags, can you feel that? That's magic! Why would we be being attacked by magic handlers?" Ileana's words made me shudder. If the vampires are using magic handlers this was going to be much harder than before. How were they supposed to fend off vampires and magic users?

Bang!

Another explosion rocked the ground. The three women ran toward the sound but stopped dead as they took in the sight before them.

At the edge of the ward stood six vampires and two magic handlers. The magic handlers were blasting the property ward with glowing masses of energy. They watched as the ward wavered but held.

'Luna I need you!'

My mind screamed for my spirit guide as I assessed the threat. There was no way they'd be able to fend off this many attackers, even with the sparring lessons.

I am here to help.

'Luna I need you to channel Gran. I need to know as much information about those magic handlers as possible.'

Of course. I will need some soul power.

I closed my eyes and quickly began chanting the meditation mantra Gran had taught me.

"Sufletul meu, mintea mea, carnea mea, puterea mea sângerau unii pe alții, esti esența mea, Sufletul meu, mintea mea, carnea mea, puterea mea sângerau unii pe alții, esti esența mea…"

I heard a gasp as I felt the familiar sensation of my soul power building. My skin was alight with tingles from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

It is done. I shall be waiting if you need me.

She felt Luna recede and the strong presence of her Gran channel in.

'Gran I need you to tell me what I'm dealing with here. What do you see?'

Bang! Bang!

Two more blasts and the ward wavered again seeming to stretch very thin but still it held strong.

The older magic user who is creating the red energy bursts is from the French coven, the DeLacrouix line I believe. They are known to be skilled offensive magic handlers but their defensive magic is notoriously sub par. The other is a magic I have not seen but possibly have heard of. Do not hold this as absolute fact but I think that smoky gray magic wielded by the woman belongs to the Egyptian coven. If that is indeed the case be extra careful Soare they are magic extractors. They will leech your magic from you through physical contact. Do not let her touch you. Be cautious, Soare.

'Thank you, Gran.'

"That ward isn't going to hold much longer

Those magic users are giving it everything they've got. What do we do?" Maggie asked with a tinge of panic. Bella's previously glowing skin momentarily forgotten.

At that moment one of the vampires stepped forward. He was tall and lean with shaggy brown hair that made him seem young. However if you looked a little closer his eyes showed his age. A determination shone through encased in sheer confidence that only came from many victories.

'Bella. Give yourself up and there will not be any violence here today. We are under orders to bring you back to Volterra but we are not to harm you or anyone else unless you resist."

I looked over to Maggie and Ileana who were both standing close, each of them wearing looks of fear.

Squaring my shoulders I looked at Ileana who looked back with a knowing look. Turning my gaze to Maggie I locked eyes with her.

Lowering my voice to a whisper, "I will fight. Can you both hold wards for lengths of time?"

I couldn't do this to them. They did nothing to deserve this. They opened their home to me, I couldn't repay them by asking them to risk their lives for me.

As I took a step forward preparing to face the group head on a hand shot out and gripped my upper arm forcefully. I looked up in shock to see a fire burning in Maggie's eyes that I'd never seen. Her eyes were locked on the brown haired vampire.

"You will not come to my home and threaten me or my family. She will not be going anywhere with you today or any other."

"Maggie don't do this. This isn't your fight. I cannot ask you to protect me."

"You didn't ask. You don't have to Bella. You're part of our family now and we protect those we love."

"Seconded." Ileana chirped.

My heart was heavy with emotion but I did not have time to process it because the man was speaking again.

"If that is your final decision then so be it."

With those words the magic handlers let loose two more huge blasts that breached the ward.

Without pause the vampires rushed in at speeds that were too fast for a normal magic user to see.

For me though it simply looked like a fast jog as I watched through the eyes of a spirit walker.

I felt the familiar feeling rise up in my chest as my hold on my magic loosened and my defensive ward raised.

"Lea! Maggie!" I lunged for them. The vampires were mere inches away when I wrapped my ward around them. I watched as Maggie's mint green magic wove into the light blue of my ward strengthening it and causing it to hum. Agitated two of the vampires, a large barrel chested dark haired male and an auburn haired female, lunged forward landing powerful hit after hit against our ward but nothing happened. It held strong.

Ileana reached forward and laid a hand against the ward muttering a string of words too low for me to hear. Within moments I felt a subtle charge flow across my magic.

The large male lifted both hands slamming them down onto the ward. With the power of his blow I was prepared for the ward to be breached, instead he was thrown back violently as a burst of bright purple exploded around his arms. I watched as he landed several yards away seemingly unable to move either of his arms. The panicked cry of the female brought me back as she flew back past the magic handlers to the vampire that had just been blown back.

My focus was diverted as the male magic user stepped forward yelling an incantation in what I assumed to be French before joining hands with the woman. I watched as his blood red magic twisted around the smoky gray of the females binding together in a thick cloud before sending it shooting forward in one massive blast.

My ward expanded shooting out like it was pushed as I attempted to counter the attack to no avail. Our ward was gone and stumbled back a few feet.

Suddenly vines stretched out from the ground like massive green arm wrapping themselves around the magic users and squeezing like leafy boa constrictors. The female used her one loose arm to conjure a handful of fire burning her way out of the vine but the male was trapped. His sharp scream pierced the air as we began to hear the sickening crack of bones.

"Raphael! No!" The female magic user screeched as she attempted to burn the vine from his body. It was too late. The vine squeezed Raphael's body once more and his body fell to the ground with a sickening thud. His body was arched in an unnatural shape as it lay on the ground, his spine having been snapped. "You were a good companion. Rest well my friend." i watched as his soul, a fiery red mass, rose toward the spirit plain swirling and lurching as it went. No one else could see it but I could and the sickening realization that one of the three of them would carry these broken souls with them haunted her.

What the hell?

Her blood ran cold as she watched the woman who had just been kneeling next to her lifeless friend reach out and grab the swirling red of his departing soul.

How is that possible?

She does absorb magic! Gran was right!

The woman's body seemed to eerily glow as she absorbed her former friend's life energy. She turned to face Bella and her two friends.

"You will regret that." The very next moment everything descended upon them at once. The six vampires split up amongst the three of them. The large male that had been injured along with the female who had ran to him headed toward Ileana, two blond males one short and stocky the other tall and lean targeted Maggie, and finally the brown haired vampire that spoke earlier and the pain causing female went for me.

I could feel the blonde's power clawing at the barrier around my mind trying to force its way in. Concentrating on my magic I focused on making a mass of electricity that shot forward from the tips of my fingers landing mere centimeters away from the girl as she barely managed to dodge it. As I was trying to dispatch her the male lunged for me, I dove to the right but he grabbed ahold of my ankle and squeezed until I heard a snap. Releasing a pained scream I hit the ground hard.

Focus through the pain, Soare.

He still had ahold of my ankle. Quickly muttering an incantation that I learned years before I managed to scorch his hand making him jerk back and release my ankle. Pulling my arm back I built up my magic, letting it go in one large blast aimed directly at him. He tried to dodge it but was not quick enough. The blast caught his leg and sent him spinning across the field. Again came the girl not giving me even a split second to collect myself. Another energy blast built up but this time instead of one large blast I shot several small ones at her, she managed to leap out of the way of the first three blasts but the fourth caught her in the dead center of her chest sending her lurching back. That one was quickly followed by two more momentarily incapacitating her long enough enough for one well placed lightning strike.

Her body lay smoldering in the field, purple smoke billowing out from her black robe.

Finally able to take a moment to check in on the sisters she saw Maggie holding her own against the two blonds. Fire encasing her fists as she waited for them to strike, as they advanced the fire flared out at them like a knife scorching their flesh causing them to retreat again. She watched as Maggie aimed at the shorter male encasing him in fire. His howling screams chilled me to the bone as he clawed at his body to no avail. I watched as the fire burnt away his flesh piece by piece. Bone showing through on his face and ribs. Unable to continue watching I looked away.

Ileana was using her telekinetic magic to throw up a shield that her attackers were slamming into and flying back several feet. All of the sudden the auburn haired female lurched forward managing to dodge a telekinetic blast. Her hands wrapped around Ileana's throat and squeezed.

"Lea no!" I sent my magic flying, burst after burst flying toward the female and the barrel chested male. They connected. I ran to her where she lay on the ground hoping with everything I had that she was just trying to breathe from being choked. The sound that left my mouth as I saw what awaited me was nothing short of an agonized wail. The girl that had been the best friend I'd ever had, the closest thing I had ever had to a sister, lay on her side on the ground, her throat crushed, eyes staring blankly up at the sky. The familiar twinkle that was always present in her blue eyes gone. I watched as a beautiful sphere of bright purple rose from Ileana's still form, rising and falling several times as if her soul was trying to fight its way back to her body

At last after a few moments of rising and falling the sphere drifted away rising further and further toward the spirit plain.

I shall meet her when she arrives. She will not be alone, Soare. There are several spirits waiting with me to recieve her.

Gran's voice whispered across my mind but this time it brought very little comfort.

Having heard my wail Maggie broke her concentration looking in our direction, once she realized what had happened she turned to run toward us but was blocked by the tall blond male. With a ferocious roar, a sound I never thought I'd hear sweet Maggie utter, she barreled her way to her sister letting loose a massive ball of flames that encased the vampire in a four foot wide ball of flames.

Maggie let out a loud sob as she collapsed on her knees beside her sister. Tears streamed down her face as she reached forward clutching Ileana's body to her as she rocked back and forth.

"No you can't leave me! You can't! I need you!" Her voice cracked. As I watched the emotional display before me my stomach clenched from intense guilt and tears stung my eyes before falling down my face leaving burning salty trails.

Soare! Run!

It was too late. My body didn't anticipate the threat so my ward was down, leaving me vulnerable to the two that had not been dispatched. The vampire grabbed me from behind, wrapping his arms around mine pinning them to my sides, his sharp teeth ast my throat.

"Be silent. One sound and I will crush your spine. Aro will not care if you are unable to walk." His icy breath combined with his frightening words caused me to shiver as bone chilling fear ripped through my body.

Maggie couldn't see me. Ileana was gone. No one could help me.

I watched as the energy leech advanced on us. A wicked smile playing at her lips as she took in the scene before her.

"I told you that you would regret your actions against my dear friend and regret them you will." My heart thudded loudly in my chest as I watched her hand reach toward my face.

The moment her overly warm fingers touched my cheek my magic flared inside me. I could feel the agitation in my energy as it fought against the woman's talent. After a few moments she could feel her energy begin to drain.

"Anku, do not take too much. Your need for revenge will not override orders and our orders are to bring her back alive."

"I know what our orders are, Felix. Tread carefully as to not attempt to tell me how to proceed. I shall do as I wish, worry not of my actions instead focus on yours."

"I do not need to tread carefully. I do not care if you take offense or feel slighted. I have been given orders and will see to it that they are followed. Do not presume that you mean more to Aro than you do. If you step out of line I will be more than justified to remove you as a threat to this mission." The energy leech removed her hand from me to hold both of her hand out palms facing me and Felix.

"You know, Bella, you have such delicious magic. Your energy feels like a rush of adrenaline through my veins. You should feel it for yourself, Felix." She pushed out with her hands sending both Felix and I flying through the air. Felix secured me so that he'd take the brunt of the landing but as we collided with the ground the air left my lungs and I registered a searing pain in the back of my head before my vision blurred and the sxene around me shifted.

I was in the spirit plain.

'''What am I doing here? Did I die? Gran! Luna!" I turned in every direction trying to find my spirit guide. I've never walked the spirit plain without her.

You are not dead. Luna has apparated into the physical plane to protect you.

A voice I was very familiar with rang out from behind me.

-'-

Maggie POV

I held my sister rocking back and forth, hot wet tears drenched my face spilling into Ileana's hair.

My sister is gone. How could I let this happen? I was supposed to protect her and I failed.

"Lea I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I should have protected you. I shouldn't have fought with you as much as I did. I should have cherished every moment with you. I'm sorry!"

My brain couldn't focus on anything other than the loss of my sister, my confidant, the best friend I could ever dream of having. I tried not to look at her neck. What I saw when I ran over to her will be burned into my brain forever.

I could feel when her soul energy left. Our magic was bound tightly having been bound repeatedly since we were children. When her energy left it felt as if someone has ripped a part of my flesh off.

Somewhere behind me I heard voices but I couldn't bring my mind to focus.

Suddenly a loud blast sounded from behind me that ripped me from my grief for a split second allowing me to turn and find out what was happening.

Bella! Oh no, not her too!

I started to leap to my feet but froze as I watched what I would have assumed was a hallucination if I didn't see the woman in front of me stumble back several feet.

A large dome of blue gray energy formed around Bella's still form, the energy so thick I could barely see through it. But that wasn't the part that was shocking.

No that went to the stark white wolf that appeared out of thin air. It's fur so white it seemed to glow with eyes a dark familiar brown. The air around it crackled with energy as it snarled angrily showing its teeth. Blue magic that looked like fire flared around each of its paws. A beautiful creature that was absolutely terrifying to behold.

The wolf advanced slowly toward the woman still snarling. She scrambled back quickly before raising a hand and flinging a gray ball of magic uselessly at the animal who merely leapt sideways dodging the attack. It raised its front right paw before stomping it angrily on the ground sending a blast of blazing blue gray magic hurling right for the woman. At the last moment she managed to dart to the left, the wolf's attack scorching the back of her legs and feet. Her agonized screams echoed across the field.

The wolf continued toward her slowly watching her every move, waiting for her next attack. It came in the form of several long thin strings of magic, each string shining a different color. One was a bright yellow that shined like a wisp of golden thread, the next a vibrant green that reminded her of algae, then came a bright blood red, a gray that looked like smoke, and the same blue of the magic used by the wolf.

The sight of that final strand of blue made the ferocious beast dip low to the ground, rage evident in its face. The hackles on its back stood straight up and the blue fire around its paws flared. She stood awestruck as she watched the animals eyes change from a dark brown to an iridescent white before leaping forward and slashing its great claws through the air.

A burst of light exploded and what appeared to be a swirling void opened and out stepped an older woman with long gray hair loose around her shoulders, her arms were bare and riddled with what looked like ancient runes of some sort carved into her flesh long ago leaving behind white scars.

The energy strands paused mid air as the injured magic handler catalogued the new addition. She must have picked up on the same thing as me at the exact same moment because she let her attack fly with as much force as she could muster.

Something about the older woman wasn't right.

As I looked closer I realized she was almost translucent.

What the hell?

The strands reached the wolf and the woman at the same moment. The beast slashed at the yellow, green, and red threads severing them as easily as if they'd been actual thread. The smoky gray reached the woman who grabbed the thread and pulled hard yanking the magic caster forward hard before snapping the thread all together. The magic caster began to panic, scrambling to try to get away as the older woman grabbed the last thread and twisted the shining blue strand around and around her arm laying it across the runes that had begun to glow. She pulled the thread still attached to the magic caster as if it were nothing until the fearful woman was mere feet from her.

Instead of snapping it like she did the others she caressed the blue thread lovingly. I watched as the thread began to slither its way up the magic caster's arm before wrapping around her throat.

"You have threatened my grandchild for the last time, Soul Leech. You have made it possible for soul eaters to take the life of an innocent of your own kind, a girl very close to my Soare. You have attacked my loved one and caused her great pain. Now you will feel their pain in spades." With that she squeezed her fist closed and yanked her arm back pulling the strand tight around the magic caster's throat. The wolf lurched forward sinking its teeth into the woman's leg. She tried to scream but no sound came out as she clawed at the thread squeezing her neck, her feet kicked to no avail. Her face became purple from lack of oxygen and her attempted weakened. At the last possible moment of consciousness the wolf tore her leg from her body causing blood to spray everywhere, covering its muzzle in dark crimson.

The older woman crouched over the lifeless body of the dead magic caster laying her hand across her chest and muttering lowly. Amazed I watched as orb after orb of different colored balls of energy flew up and out of sight.

Finally the woman stood, catching my eye before giving me a bright smile. The wolf rubbed against her leg as she ran her hands through its soft white fur.

"Thank you, Maggie." And then she and the bloody beast faded away.

She stood there in a decimated clearing full of bodies, scorched ground, craters from several explosions and severed limbs and all she could conjure in her mind was,

What the fuck just happened?

-'-''-''-

Thank you all for taking the time to read my story. This is my first shot at it so please feel free to review. Let me know how you're liking it so far!