Chapter 3
Thank you all for reading. There won't be anymore chapters this weekend because I have an exam this coming week. None of the characters are mine. Have a great day!
I have been away from Maria for about 40 years now, and I am loving every moment of it. Who would have known how big the world got since I have been in the wars? I have done more things in the last 3 years than I could have ever dreamed of doing as a human.
As soon as I left I went all around the United States, meeting vampires, meeting humans, going to remote places. I never told them that I was the General of the Southern wars, though I heard many tales of the man. Apparently, he could take on armies of 100 vampires by himself with his arms tied behind his back. Now that's ridiculous, I could only do that with one arm behind my back, but I didn't need to correct those stories. It seemed my plan of blocking myself from the mind of vampires worked. All the stories included a large 8-foot vampire with tree trunk legs and muscular arms as the description.
I was becoming a myth and that is how I would like it to stay. I don't need any recognition for my times in wars. It was gruesome and forced upon me until the day I left, but I will not hide from my punishment should the Volturi ever come to call upon it. Right now, I just think they don't know who I am or else they would hunt me down.
Early in my travels, I met a vampire named Garrett from the Revolutionary war. He wanted to try his hand at fighting be because of my scars and I indulged him. I won easily, obviously, but after the fight a crazed vampire came out of the woods we were in shouting. He went right up to Garrett, who had a few minor flesh wounds and bit him. Now I am not one to get in the middle of a fight that has nothing to do with me, but Garrett had fought valiantly and seemed a little more trustworthy than this individual.
I ended up burning the crazed newborn when I could not get a clear hold on his rantings. I have seen it happen before where a new vampire wakes up crazed having lost their mind to the burn and the sire is not around to help them. I got a few bites on my arms, but nothing too bad. It is not as if others will even notice them compared to the many I have from the wars. Garrett was impressed with my fighting.
"My lady, I must say you were holding back on me. I have only seen one person take on a vampire and win that quickly. I owe you a debt for saving my life. I don't know if I would have won." Garrett bowed to me as he said this.
"Nonsense kind sir. He was crazed and would expose us all if we did not dispose of him. It happens occasionally, from what I have seen. Who is this vampire you talk of that I compare to?" I wanted to meet anyone who may know the Major. I still had his memories and wanted to return them to him at some point.
"Well it is not my story to tell, but he lives with my friends the Cullens in the north somewhere. They settle into living among the humans for years at a time. They drink animal blood, so they do not have to take human life. It seems a little crazy to me, but to each their own." Garrett continued to talk as I processed what was said.
Animal blood instead of human blood. That is horribly wrong for the vampire body. It doesn't give enough nutrients to keep the mind sharp. I know because Maria used to give it to us as punishment. It happened a lot to me. It was the only blood I got for 5 years when I angered her as a young vampire.
I noticed that I was weaker, my gifts didn't work as well, and my movements were slower. It was more difficult to hear or see things from a distance and I was constantly consumed by the need for more blood. These Cullens must have great control to be around humans and be hungry all the time. The only reason I never cracked and drank human blood on my punishment was because I would have been dismembered for 2 years before being put back together to fight if I had.
Maria was creative in her punishments.
"Isa, are you okay, you look as if you have seen a ghost." Garrett was concerned with my wellbeing, he would be a good friend.
"Sorry Garrett, I was merely thinking about the animal diet. It is not something I would ever want to turn to. The effects on the vampire body and mind are detrimental if animal blood is used continuously. The Cullens must be very strong vampires. I would like to meet them sometime." I finished my thought.
"Well I am not sure where they live right now, but I do have a friend that keeps up with them a little better. If I run into them I will ask. Do you have a cell phone?" I kept my face calm, but I did not know what that device would be, so I shook my head no. "Well here I have an extra, you must have broken yours." Garrett handed me a slim silver device that had buttons on it. This time the confusion must have shown on my face.
"You don't know what this is do you?" Garrett was grinning as he asked. "I have never gotten to be ahead of someone on the technology in circulation!" He was mighty pleased with himself. I didn't take to well to being laughed at though.
"Well are you going to show me or not?" Garrett trembled at the fear lacing my voice. I felt awful immediately. It didn't happen often, but I needed to let off some steam and had no outlet for it at the moment. I needed a challenge.
At that moment Garrett started walking me through how the phone worked and what buttons to push for what. He even added his number in, so we could keep in contact by texting. It was a marvelous device. We parted ways not long after, each of us wanting to see a different coast.
Some years passed before I met anyone else I might call a friend. It is impolite to say, but I know I was choosing friends based on their strength. I didn't need somebody that would pull me down in a fight and those were the only people I was meeting. The fake friends who just wanted to use you to help themselves. These years I spent mostly helping those who could not help themselves.
I assisted humans when they were stuck in rivers or mountains. I helped innocent vampires escape sadistic games others were playing with them. I met some of the Volturi on a mission once and helped them. Jane and Alec were stuck between a rock and a hard place when I helped them out. I could have been friends with them, but their powers were going to their heads. Without the metal illusions they cast they would fall easily in battle.
The two people I met who did become friends were Peter and Charlotte. I had run across their ranch in Colorado before I could stop myself. I was following instincts that said to keep running even after crossing the scented lines near their home. When I reached the door, Peter was standing outside as though he expected me.
"Hello, my name is Isa. I apologize for intruding on your home, but my instinct pulled me here." I was firm in my explanation though I was nervous about the repercussion for entering marked land.
"Hello General, I have been waiting years for you to show up here. I am Peter, and this is my mate Charlotte." The shock must have shown on my features because he burst out laughing. "Oh, don't worry, it is just a sense of intuition that I have. I know shit and you are going to be important to this little family eventually. We won't tell anyone who you are." He tried to put me at ease I could tell.
The only problem was that the danger part of my brain had kicked in and that puts the powers on overdrive. The General part of my brain was activated once again for the first time in 20 years and I was on edge. My body sank into a crouch without warning and I hissed in his general direction.
At that moment I put myself on lock down and wrapped a bubble around my new future friends. This has to stop happening to me. I needed to be in control of myself always, so I wrapped another shield around myself and went to war in my brain.
It must have been a site to watch. One vampire writhing around on the ground with two dominant personalities warring to get control. Peter and Charlotte were there for me though. They talked me through what was happening, and they gave me strength. It took two days before I was able to get a handle on my second personality. The General and I are the same person and always have been. I was strong enough to be present at all of Maria's torture and war, but the General liked to fancy herself the true strategist. I guess she came forward so that I would have someone to talk to in the years I went through the wars.
There was not a noticeable change in my demeanor, just that she wanted to keep us as safe as possible and this time she was saying to kill the ones who know our identity. I didn't think that would be necessary and we fought over the decision until finally she morphed back into being a subconscious part of my brain instead of an actual figure. It was a definite plus to know I was no longer talking to the voices in my head though she was a big part of the reason I left and am not yet crazy.
When I came out of the episode, Peter was there holding a junky and let me feed quickly. I was exhausted and thankful that he thought ahead because it was unlikely I could hunt for myself.
"Thank you for the meal. I apologize for that fit in your front yard. The voice in my head had to merge with my brain for us to not kill you." I decided that honesty was the best policy here. "I am the General of the South, though you are the only ones who know my identity. I try to keep it as much of a secret as possible because I do not want to be used for my abilities. I can be on my way. I just ask that you keep this information to yourself. Again, I apologize for my intrusion." I was trying to leave with as much dignity as possible.
"Now you listen here lil' bit, my mama raised me right and I would not be a true gentleman if I let you leave before you freshened up. I had a feeling what would happen when I greeted you, but I knew it had to be done. Now come on in here and let's get to know each other." Peter called from behind me as I turned to walk away.
I was hesitant, but I decided that I could still kill him if I needed to.
"Okay if you are sure. I don't want to intrude any more than I already have though."
"Sugar, you aren't intruding at all. Come on in. You are a Whitlock now and we take care of our own." I stopped at her remark. Whitlock, I like that name." I mean, you can keep your own name …" Charlotte trailed off at my hesitation.
"I don't remember my last name. I haven't heard it in 140 years, so I doubt I would even recognize it." I replied
Peter startled me when he walked up "Well now you are officially a Whitlock, come on in."
That was the start of my friendship with Peter and Charlotte. I go every year to visit now, so they are basically my family. I couldn't have asked for better family. They are there when you need them. They are strong and liable and not a person that would use me for my abilities. Peter is willing to pick a fight when I am getting some pent-up aggression and Charlotte helps keep updated on the world by texting me memes and funny jokes she finds on the internet.
You know what it just might be time for a visit to my favorite people.
Thanks for reading. Have a good week!
