Chapter 7: Consequences

Edward was silent again as we headed back home. One difference from the silence earlier was his emotions. He was frustrated, confused and slightly annoyed. I wondered what could be causing his latest array of emotions.

"I am trying to make senses of all the information that Peter shared, and what Maria was thinking during the aftermath of the battle. Peter dumped so much information on me that it's taking longer to process then I expected. Then there is what Maria was thinking while you were questioning Peter. I think I barely scratched the surface earlier with what I told everyone," Edward said in answer to my wonderings.

"Maybe I can help you work it out," I offered.

"I know that I mentioned earlier that Peter was jealous, but I didn't get into details. Some of his thoughts were about us," Edward replied.

"What about us?" I asked.

"Peter was jealous of what we had. His relationship with Alice was a farce, but to us it appeared as if he was happy. He wanted what we have, true love," Edward answered.

"He has no one to blame but himself about that. He can be jealous all he wants, but it changes nothing. He created this mess and he should have thought through the consequences," I said. "This isn't what has you frustrated."

"No, your right this isn't what is frustrating me. It's something that Maria was thinking that isn't making sense with the information that Peter shared with me," Edward replied.

"You think that Peter may have been editing his thoughts, or still lying?" I asked.

"No, but he may have left information out," Edward answered.

"What do you mean?"

"It's what Maria was thinking when Peter was explaining his reason for the betrayal. Maria was surprised and confused about why Peter didn't bring up a girl by the name of Maggie. Maria seemed to think that she was important to why Peter betrayed us." Edward said.

"Maggie?" I asked with confusion. I knew I had heard that name before, and it was odd that Maria would be thinking of someone unless it was tied in with what happened.

"Yes, that is the name she was thinking of at the time. Do you know who she was thinking about?"

"Maybe, but I'm not sure. I personally don't know anyone named Maggie, but I know that Peter did know a human girl named Maggie. Before I changed Peter he was courting a young red head named Maggie. Her parents were Irish, and had emigrated from Ireland. He had planned to ask her father to marry her, but after the change he never had contact with her again. I doubt it's the same person, and even if it were she'd be in her mid to late seventies by now," I answered.

"Now I'm even more confused," Edward replied.

"Why?" I asked.

"I assume you knew every vampire in Maria's coven?"

"Of course, I did. I was her chief lieutenant... Why?" I replied.

"Well the Maggie that Maria was thinking of is a vampire about our physical age, but I don't know when she was changed. She's also a red head and is short, maybe a little taller then Alice," Edward replied.

Edward shared Maria's thoughts about Maggie with me and I was stunned. "It's the same girl."

I showed Edward a memory of a photograph that Peter had showed me of Maggie. "This is getting really complicated now."

"I don't think so. This actually makes a lot of sense and is right up Maria's alley," I replied.

"What do you mean?" Edward asked.

"Listen to this theory. Maria's goal was always to take over Mexico City, but that isn't possible with less then forty to fifty vampires. Maria has always been good at picking out vampires with gifts or certain abilities. I doubt she is gifted like Eleazar, but I think she just good at reading people," I begin.

"Go on."

"She needs another vampire with similar abilities to mine. The logical place to start looking would be within my own family. Maria some how manages to track down my family without my knowledge, which I will admit at the time was probably easy considering my mental state. She obviously found Peter and must have been watching him for sometime. She learns he's courting Maggie, which she can use against him if he doesn't follow her orders."

"Maria has got to be the world's biggest a bitch," Edward commented.

"No argument here," I added. "Maria gets me to change Peter, by having us cross paths. Peter turns out to be the kind of soldier we need. He's physically fit, smart and quick to learn. So I change Peter and in secret Maria changes Maggie and hides her as insurance for use later."

"Hiding a newborn vampire isn't that easy," Edward said.

"Especially in the south, but Maria and I did control one of the largest territories. She could have easily hidden Maggie in another city and I would never have known about it."

"Okay, let's say your theory is right and that is what Maria did, then what?"

"Maria then sends Peter after me, and I believe everything he told us about that is true. Maria would have kept Maggie as an ace up her sleeve to use later. Peter, however, has a hard time finding me. When he does find me he's already tasted freedom and doesn't want to go back to war. Peter never liked the fight, even thought he was good at it."

"Okay, but James went to Maria and told her where to find us," Edward interjected.

"True, but Maria was most likely frazzled by the Volturi involvement. I would have wagered that when she first learned of the Volturi's connection to our family she was hesitant to act, but after what Demetri shared with us we know that she did act. He ends up decimating her coven and she spends the next three decades rebuilding. We both know that things are not going well for her, she loses territory to Xavier as fast as she takes it from others."

"She didn't believe we were friend with the Volturi in Calgary," Edward added.

"She was bluffing. She knew we were friends, but when she saw us along she likely thought that our friendship wasn't as strong as she was lead to believe."

"Okay, but when does Maria play he ace?" Edward asked.

"She played back when she caught up with Peter during our time studying abroad. Peter then kept quiet because he still loved Maggie. If anything he loved her more after his change then before, and I think that got enhanced during his change. It's possible that Maggie was meant to be his soul mate," I said.

"Why'd didn't he come forward with this information?" Edward asked.

"That I don't know, but it maybe that he did believe Maria would find out he told us and kill Maggie. Peter was probably trying to figure out a way to get Maggie out safely, but also keep us from getting hurt. I think he ran out of time. Maria's patience was gone and she wanted results immediately."

"So why not tell us that when you questioned him?" Edward asked.

"He was still trying to protect her."

"He might have gotten off a bit easier with the family if he hadn't hidden this from us."

"That maybe so, but he didn't know what our plans for dealing with Maria would be. He also probably figured that Maria would kill Maggie if he brought it up," I reasoned.

"So maybe he's not a total heartless son of a bitch," Edward said.

"No, I think he's just young and naïve, and in way over his head. Peter wasn't very good at getting out of tight situations. He knew how to read a battlefield, but corner him and he doesn't know how to get out." I replied.

"So what do we do now?" Edward asked.

"I don't know. Now I wish I had known about this sooner. Maybe then I could have gotten answers from Peter," I replied.

"I don't think we can, in good conscience; stand idly by while a potentially innocent person is killed," Edward said.

"No, I don't suppose we can. Peter is no match for Maria in a fight," I said.

I took the highway exit that was closest to home and then headed in that direction. I was certain that if I chose to investigate this theory further that Edward would come with me and help, but I didn't know if anyone else would go with us. Most of the family was very upset with how Peter had treated Alice. There was no guarantee that any of them would agree to help me.

Edward and I sat in silence as we worked out what we needed to do. Only when we arrived home did the silence finally break again.

"What the hell is going on here?" I said as I was suddenly flooded with so many swirling emotions it was nearly crippling. I also noticed Edward grab his head and feel slightly nauseated from what must have been a torrent of thoughts.

"I'm not sure what everyone is thinking a million things at once and it's hard to find a direction for the thoughts I'm hearing," Edward replied.

"Let's go find out." I said.

We had barely opened the door to the house when Esme had us both in a tight hug. It was as if she hadn't seen us in months, or years.

"Is everything alright here?" I asked.

"Thank God! We thought the worse," Esme said.

"We just went out for some air. It's not like we skipped town," I said.

"Alice had a vision. She wasn't very clear about what she saw but she became very distressed and just kept saying that she's going to kill them. We thought that she mean Maria was after the two of you," Riley said as he entered the room.

Demetri sigh, "No one ever listens to me." But everyone knew he was being sarcastic.

I raised an eyebrow in question to his statement. "I told them that the two of you were fine and that Maria was heading south, but everyone here got worried anyway."

"I see," I replied.

"Alice has been pacing her room for the last hour muttering your name and then repeating the line about 'she's going to kill them'. I'd suggestion going to see her," Demetri said.

"Umm, okay," I said. I was shocked to hear that Alice was out of her comatose state. I headed up to Alice's room with Edward following behind me.

"Alice," I said as I entered her room. She had been pacing back and forth in front of the bed but stopped the moment she heard by voice. She turned on her heels and flitted over to me.

"Slow down Alice, you're going too fast," Edward said. I turned to see his eyes moving back and forth rapidly. Alice was sharing her vision with him and Edward was trying not to miss anything.

"You have to save them," Alice said to me.

"Save who?" I asked.

"Peter and Maggie," Edward answered.

"Who is Maggie?" Riley asked from behind us. Edward wrapped an arm around me pulling me too him. His emotions did somersaults ranging between fear, loss, concern and finally relief.

"It's complicated, but I'll explain in a minute. Edward what did Alice show you?"

"You're theory is correct. We need to intervene or they'll both die, but that is not all," Edward said.

"Would someone tell me what the hell is going on?" Riley said.

"Hold your fucking horses!" Edward said angrily.

"Well excuse me for wanting answers! This has been going on for the last four fucking hours," Riley replied angrily.

"You know, for an immortal your awfully impatient," Emmett said as he appeared in the door way.

"Would you two shut up!" Edward said; his voice was both annoyed an angry.

"Alice, go over the last vision again, please," Edward said calmly.

After another moment Alice touched my arm. "You have to help him."

I nodded my head, "If that is what you want."

Alice nodded, then turned and crawled back up on to the bed. She curled herself up into a fetal position and that was the last she spoke. She was back in her comatose state. I looked over my shoulder at Edward.

"Did you get everything?" I asked.

"Yes. You two go gather everyone up and we'll meet in the dinning room in ten minutes," Edward said

"Fine!" Riley said and left, followed by Emmett.

As soon as Emmett and Riley were gone, Edward whispered into my ear. "Alice saw a lot more then just Peter and Maggie dying. We will need to convince the others to help or we will lose family before this is all over."

"Edward, what did you see?" I asked.

"Xavier didn't kill all the vampires from Maria's coven that stayed in the south," Edward replied.

"He missed those who were watching over Maggie?" I asked.

"Yes. There are three mature vampires watching over her. One of them maybe gifted, but Eleazar would be able to tell us that if he joins us. Dealing with them won't be too difficult as long as we follow what Alice has laid out in her visions," Edward answered.

"Are you going to explain the sudden urge you had to hold me, or should I assume it has something to do with what you saw?" I asked.

"You and I are alright, but I can't say the same for the other couples in our family. If we don't handle this situation exactly right it'll be bad for all of us," Edward said.

"Then we'd best convince everyone and get this mess with Maria over with once and for all," I said. I was done playing nice with Maria. I had tried to avoid what was unavoidable. I would have to kill my creator to end her meddling with my family.

"You should also go change your jeans, you have a wet spot. Figured I save you from Emmett," Edward chuckled lightly in my ear before releasing me.

I quickly headed to our room and changed, before meeting back up with Edward. Everyone was gathered in the dinning room when we entered the room. We took our seats and Edward immediately began explaining Alice's visions.

"Alice had several visions while we were away. What Alice saw could have grave consequence for us if we do not act. We are going to have to put the events that occurred in the last day aside so that we are able to resolve the visions," Edward said.

"What did Alice see?" Carlisle asked.

"Not a whole lot of good. Our inaction will lead to exposure of our kind, and in a way that cannot be explained away. Maria also had one more trick and she's about to play it. It wasn't something any of us could have predicted," Edward said.

"Xavier did not get Maria's entire coven. There are three members left in addition to Maria. One of them maybe gifted, and I'm sure Eleazar would be able to tell us if we were close enough," Edward continued.

"Of course, it should be very easy to do when we get close enough," Eleazar replied.

"Peter did not tell us everything, but Maria gave me a clue into what was missing. Jasper came up with a theory that we discussed on the way back home. As I said Peter didn't tell us everything, or share all his thoughts with me when Jasper questioned him. However, Maria gave us the what we needed to fill in all the missing pieces of the puzzle."

"What theory, and what didn't Peter tell us?" Carlisle asked. I could tell he was annoyed by being lied too again.

I quickly explained my theory to everyone and there were some very shocked emotions, and some of the hate for Peter seemed to lessen. "Why didn't he just tell us all this to begin with?" Emmett asked.

"Peter was afraid that Maria would find out if he told us. It wouldn't be hard for him to believe Maria when she told him she'd know if he came to us. Look at our family. Edward can read mind and Alice see the future. It's not hard to believe that those same gifts could be out there, or that Maria may have gained access to them., I replied.

"It would not be hard to believe, but I can also assure you that Alice's gift is extremely rare. There are some abilities that are more readily available. Trackers, no offense Demetri, are widely available; few of those trackers are as good as you. Mind Reading, Empathic and Foresight abilities are among the rarest. Aro and Edward are the only mind readers I've ever come across. Alice is the only foresight gift I've seen, and Jasper's Empathic abilities are the rarest. I've never met another vampire with the ability to control emotions the way he can," Eleazar added.

"What about Marcus and Chelsea?" Demetri asked.

"Marcus can sense bonds and connections between people, but he has no control over them. Chelsea is the exact opposite, but her gift is limited. She can create bonds and break them, but she has no influence over bonds between mates. I also doubt she'd be able to break family bonds," Eleazar explained.

"That is all fascinating, but can we get back to the exposure thing?" Riley asked impatiently.

Eleazar and Demetri nodded, and Edward continued.

"Maria has no mind readers or foresight vampires in her coven, at least not according to what Alice has seen. However, none of that matters because Peter believes she does and that is enough to cause problems. Maria is going to try and lure Peter into exposing himself and by extension all of us," Edward said. "It appears that if she can't win this fight that she plans to take us all down with her."

"How is she planning on getting him to expose us?" Carlisle asked.

"She's going to setup a trap to lure Peter into thinking that he'll be able to rescue Maggie. It'll occur in a public place and Peter's actions will be caught on video. Peter's eyes will be caught in the video, and anyone who sees it will be able to tell they are a faded gold. Peter slips and the end of the video shows them as bright red. It's all caught on video and within a few days it's making headline news," Edward said.

"So the little bastard exposes himself. I don't see the big deal," Rosalie replied.

"What color are you eyes, Rosalie?" I asked.

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh… If Peter exposes himself he then exposes all of us. We won't be able to live among humans for decades to come, and perhaps even longer. Regardless of what leads to his exposure we need to stop it. Alice has asked that we stop Maria from killing Peter, and Maggie. If Alice can put aside her pain to see to his safety, then we must do the same," I replied.

"Jasper is right. We can't stand by while an innocent person is killed, nor can we let Peter die because of his fear to ask for help. We need to put everything aside and focus on putting an end to Maria's reign of terror against us," Emmett said.

"Sometimes you impress, Emmett," I said with a grin.

"Careful, you'll give him a big head," Edward laughed.

"Someone has to provide comic relief around here. All of you are a bunch of stiffs," Emmett replied with a grin. "But Jasper next time just kill the fucking bitch."

"What is the plan?" Riley asked.

"We need to go to Houston. From there we'll need to track down Maria, and with a little luck she'll point us in the right direction before all this spirals down hill. Alice's visions are specific from the point we find Maggie, but getting to that point is more difficult," Edward said.

"I can track down Maria very easily. Do we know who else from her coven still lives?" Demetri asked.

"I did not recognize anyone in the visions." Edward said.

"Show me the visions. I may be able to recognize other members of the coven," I said.

Edward showed me the visions. I studied them carefully, but I did not recognize any of the other vampires. I did, however, recognize one of the locations in the vision.

"One of those places is the old farm house and barn we used for training. It's located about half way between Houston and Galveston. I think this could be where Maria may have been hiding Maggie," I said.

"Wouldn't you have known if Maria was hiding Maggie there?" Riley asked.

"No. We stopped using that location about five years prior to Peter joining us. Maria moved us to a plantation home south of the city. I never went back to the other location," I answered.

"Who's going?" Riley asked.

"Demetri, this isn't exactly your fight but we could surely use your help," I said.

"Exposure of our kind is a serious matter. I would be no better then Maria if I allowed her to expose us all. There is also an innocent life that must be considered. You will have my help," Demetri replied.

"I will go as well. You will need my ability to discern if any of the vampires are gifted," Eleazar said.

"You already know that I'm going with you," Edward added.

"He's not going without me," Riley replied. "I may not like what Peter did, but I'm not letting my brother go without me. Beside my ability could come in handy."

"I think it would be best if everyone else stay here. If we fail then you will only have a few hours to get everything packed up and be out of here. If we do fail then we'll meet up with all of you at the home in Montana," I said.