A/N - Okay, so chapter three. R&R, tell me what you think.
Disclaimer - I wish so much Edward was mine. But he isn't. Twilight = Stephanie Meyer. Bugger.
Alanna stepped forwards. "Are you going to come quietly, or do I have to use force?" The small ball of anger magic in her hand answered for me.
I smiled back. I greeted them each in turn, before turning my face into one of pure concentration. " will never surrender myself. I made my choice and you continue to persecute me for it. This is my life now, albeit as some kind of weak hybrid. But I refuse to allow you to follow a set of rules that were invented when this kind of situation was unthinkable! I ask, although I already know your answer, that you will leave me and my family alone." I became aware that my older English style of talking was coming through, but realised that the age of the audience was probably more than I could count, and I sounded like I was using modern slang.
"I can never do that. You agreed to the rules, and now you break them. Not only that, but you leave us for some man. I was tolerant and allowed you two to be together. Admittedly, I was having a few doubts around the time you left, but clearly for a good reason. Let me end this now." She threw her energy forwards, changing form to a large red and gold dragon before being met with a sickening crack by a small gold object. I glanced at the source beside me, and was met by Esme's defiant face. I reached for her hand and gave it a small squeeze, thanking her for the save. Our only problem was that now Alanna recognised her.
"Esme. I'm ashamed. I would have thought you died when you jumped off that cliff. I thought you wanted to be with your sweet little boy?" Her voice became mocking, and I clenched her hand with a low whisper of "Don't listen to her." Alanna carried on regardless. "You knew what you should have done; you knew our destinies that should have been entwined from the start. Our mother sacrificed her gift to give us life so we could use it. And you had to go and have a child. The one rule that once we dedicate ourselves we cannot do. Surely you understand why I did what I had to." Esme's face was murderous. I could see the man I vaguely recognised as Carlisle from my past and Sophia's photos was nervously looking at Esme as if wondering whether to let her continue, or restrain her. He decided on wrapping an arm around her waist, putting him in a prime position to whisper words of comfort in her ear. I think I heard him say someone's name that I didn't recognise before a wave of calm and comfort overcame me. My legs weakened a little more than usual, and I clung to Rose for a bit of support. I glanced at Esme who seemed to ease up a little.
"You will not hurt me or my family. You stopped being my sister the moment you dedicated yourself. I chose not to follow my path, and you want to punish me for that. Fine. But you will not hurt my children." I winced slightly as I heard those words, and winced again when I saw the look in Alanna's eyes. The next word sliced through my heart like a knife, then twisted it around.
"Children." Only the vampires could hear it, by my reckoning. "Children!" Now, everyone in Seattle could hear it. I decided to intervene. I could not stand by and have history repeat itself. I stepped round Edward and down the steps until I was on the same ground as Alanna. Adan quickly stepped to my side. I spoke loud.
"They're adopted. Each one has a different story, a different problem and a different way they've found sanctuary in this woman. She has become the mother that they haven't had in decades. She has shown them how to cope with whatever caused them to be changed, and to be able to try to live a normal life. She has the most amazing ability to love her family, and it's during times like this when she becomes the glue that holds them together when they should be torn apart by the conflict. And do you know how I know?" I bored my eyes into Alanna's, the skin around my blue one tingling with inspiration and my vampire one looking for a way to protect everyone and yet still manage to hurt her if she leapt at me. "Because Rose and Edward were my best friends when we stayed in Columbus, and when I met Esme, she was like my mother and my older sister that I had left when I joined you. She cared for me like her own, and would have done anything for me. And you tried to kill her spirit." I narrowed my eyes at her, and glanced down the road.
"Leave now. You know you can't outnumber 12 and a half vampires. I won't get my way, but I never want to see your face here ever again." Alanna grimaced, sharply turned, and ran down the driveway, quickly followed by Sienna, and then Julliette, who gave me a glance that showed her inner turmoil before following. Once I was sure they'd left, I turned to face Esme, who I'm sure would have been crying if she could. She ran towards me, arms outstretched, while I smiled at her overjoyed face. Then, the blackness caved in, and all I saw was night.
For some reason, I was watching myself years ago. Being my usual completely disorganised self, I was racing between just outside my bedroom door and various points in my messy room for things I'd forgotten. Eventually the doorbell rang, and I slung my bag over the shoulder and ran crashing into the door. I cursed loudly, and opened the door to see my best friend Rose standing there, identical to herself many decades later, except for the dated school uniform.
"Check-list?" I breathlessly said to her.
"Pencil case, notebook, homework, exercise book, lunch, money, keys, clothes, head." She grinned at me as I made one last trip up the stairs to retrieve my homework sheet.
"Done!" I yelled goodbye to my sisters who would be leaving after me because they decided to run through the park nearby to make their trip shorter, while I walked at a mortal pace with Rose.
"Where's Edward today?" I probed. I knew that some of the girls in my classes thought that we were together, but I just laughed at them. Edward was like my brother, protective, watchful, and a source of a male point of view, which I never got from my sisters.
"He decided to go for a quick hike before school. He should have gone last night but guess what-"
"He got wrapped up in his piano?" I finished for her. She nodded.
"Oh, are we still on for Saturday? I heard the weather's going to be quite cloudy, so we might be able to make a few pit stops without worrying. Plus, we can go visit your herb gardens if you need a top up..." She trailed off to her own thoughts.
"Sure, but I don't think Sienna or Alanna will be coming. Sienna doesn't like you, but she understands that Alanna can't get too close to you before she sees your mom, so she's staying behind to do combat practise with her. Julliette needs to go to the herb gardens though, so we should be fine." I smiled widely, and gave Rose a sideways hug as we walked, before letting her stick to the shadows on the road while I spun around in the slight sunshine, feeling tingles shooting up my spine and down my arms as I drew some energy from the weak and temporary sun. The grin remained on my face as I dived back into the shadows.
"Don't worry Rosie. You'll find someone who'll stay with you by the trees while I go off and dance like the loon I am!" We laughed at the truth in the statement, and the promise that we made.
"Gi, Gi! Giovanna!" I heard Rose calling my name through the laughter, but it became more serious.
"Gi, wake up, oh please." Her voice was breaking, but the Rose next to me was still laughing and holding onto my waist for support. She was fading though. I went through the black again until I resurfaced into the present day.
With a gasp of fresh air I saw that Rose was holding my right hand, kneeling by my side, her face worried and her perfect forehead creased. Edward was crouching behind her shoulder, his face a near mirror image. I became aware that my torso was leaning on someone's knees, and looked up to see Adan's relieved face. I tired to get up, but a pale hand pushed me down again.
"You take it slow. I'm sure your head's not feeling too good right now. We'll get you inside and check you over, alright?" All I could do was grumble at the bronze haired guy attached to the end of the arm that pushed me back into Adan's lap. I stayed still while Adan picked me up bridal style and carried me through the large doors. "You know I hate feeling helpless. Why wont you let me walk?" I muttered into his shoulder while poking his chest to emphasize my point.
"Because you know I don't want you to exert yourself anymore than you have to. You are too precious to me for you to go using up all the energy you don't have." He set me down on the sofa Edward indicated, while I made a face at them both. Carlisle pushed past them to get to me. He set down his bag next to me and started to ask me some of the questions I was expecting from the several medical professionals I'd seen in my time. Edward wandered off to deal with someone who I hadn't seen yet, while Adan stood at my head, playing with my hair and forcing me to answer each question completely truthfully. Just as I got used to the questions, I instead got poked and prodded by various instruments, all of which were slightly cooler than my skin. While I was waiting for some electronic machine to give a readout, I noticed the small pixie girl hovering on the stairs, watching nervously. She smiled weakly at me, but seemed unsure as to whether to approach me, or to run away. I twisted to look at Adan, who whispered in my ear "She wants to say hello and learn more about me, but I think she's confused about something." I turned back to see her in the same position as before.
"And how do you know, Mr Know-It-All?" I mocked him.
"I recognise her expression. It was plastered all over your face the day I pulled you out of the ice." Without looking, I batted his arm. I was so easy to read.
"Carlisle?" I spoke quietly. "Why is she confused?" I watched his blonde head until he looked up from his instrument. He looked at me, then turned to face the pixie girl. I heard him call her over.
"I'm sure she explains better than me." He smiled at me. He took a small tube of my residual blood upstairs with him, leaving the pixie girl in his place. Before I could say hi, she hugged me furiously. I was sure I heard something pop out of place.
"I'm Alice. Sorry for not coming over to talk to you, but I was interested about you. I'll explain later, when you're feeling better I don't want to worry you at the moment. Are you alright now? You gave us all a good scare." She smiled kindly at me, and took my hand into her cool one.
How was I supposed to reply? That being around all these 'normal' vampires made me feel out of place? That I felt weak and horrible? That I wished that something about me wouldn't give me away when trying to be human, mortal or vampire.
I put on a smile. "Yeah, my head feels a bit better. But I'm not as ill as everyone thinks. I've been this way for a while, so I know how to look after myself. I think I just got overemotional before, and it caused me to blackout. I'll live for a long while yet." I have her hand a squeeze, finding myself to be very comfortable in her presence.
"Well, I'm sure this is all for the best. You'll get stronger, and you'll be able to stop your vampire side eating your witch side." Her eyes were dancing with understanding.
"I'm only being prodded because Sophia cares so much for me that she wants me to get better. So not only am I not normal, I have my ex unbiological sisters trying to kill me. I'm sorry I brought that to your doorstep. I thought they were a lot further away, and I had a few days, but I must have miscalculated." I sighed, and felt Adan's hand trace my jaw line and ear. I smiled up at him, before looking back at Alice.
"It's not your fault. We've dealt with worse in our time. Honest." Her face calmed me down, and the corners of my mouth rose upwards more. ⌠Hey, maybe we could go shopping if you feel better! I'm sure they wouldn't try anything in a public place, and if we took one of the boys with us..." I saw her mind working. She glanced up at Adan as if she knew that, for some reason, none of the other strong siblings would come with us. Odd.
"Um, sure?" I shrugged my shoulders. She grinned wildly. She hugged me with more enthusiasm than before. "Ah, Alice?" I croaked. I could hear my lungs screaming for air.
"Oh sorry!" She apologised profusely. She ran her hands over my shoulders to check for anything out of place whilst I looked up at Adan, who was simply gazing back at me with slight amusement.
"I'm going to go talk to Sophia, okay? I'll be back before you know it." He smiled, and placed a chaste kiss on my lips before rising and disappearing up the stairs.
Alice had finished checking me over, and was looking back at me as if I'd just told her something that made her very happy. "Okay, now he's gone, can I ask you a question?"
I nodded slightly scared at what her question could be.
"How do you carry everything you need in that backpack?" I threw back my head and laughed.