NOTE: I do not own or have rights to Twilight or it's characters!!!

AN: Because the last one was so short . . . well you know what they say; Take two, they're small!

Chapter 7

No Such Thing as Dragons


A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant strings make way for other toys.
One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar
.

Puff the Magic Dragon

Peter, Paul, and Mary


"Oooh," Alice purred, "you landed on Community Chest. What does your card say Esme."

"Like you don't already know," Rose sneered.

I couldn't help giggling; Rose wasn't a very gracious looser. Alice owned most of the strategic properties and she had hotels on all but two of those. Bella held all four railroads and Mama owned the utilities. Poor Rose had her meager holdings heavily mortgaged and had been to jail more times that I cared to count.

"Congratulations, you've won a local beauty contest, collect $100." Mama read the card aloud with a smile in her voice.

"Why does Esme always win contest and collect money and I always end up paying taxes and fixing pot holes?" Rose grumped.

As I continued to smile my hand ghosted over the box in my lap. The Monopoly money was arranged in stacks from left to right, smallest denomination to largest. The second stack from the right was hundred dollar bills; I picked up one and handed it to Mama.

"Thank you dear." Mama was always the picture of civility, even if she might be losing. Rose could learn a thing or two from her. "I believe it's your turn now Bella."

I listened as Bella jiggled the dice in her hand before lightly tossing them onto the game board. "Seven." She announced and then she moved her game piece.

The house rules that Mama established when playing with me were, move at human speed and make sure you tap the board for every space you moved. This was so that I could keep up.

"Ah ha," Bella sounded triumphant. "I passed go, two hundred dollars please."

"Not so fast little sister," A wicked grin tinted Rose's voice. "You also landed on Baltic Avenue, with three houses on it. That belong to me and you owe me rent . . . pay up!"

I reached for the stack of hundreds and pulled two bills to give to Bella. She took her salary and then there was the sound of shuffling paper as Bella counted out the amount she owed Rose.

"That's more like it," Rose commented smugly. "It's about time I got paid."

"I believe it's your turn now Rose." Mama prodded gently. "Do try to stay out of jail dear, it would be nice if you could make it the whole way around the board this time."

'Oh no she didn't' I thought to myself. I couldn't believe my ears; my sweet saintly mother had just deliberately teased my sister. I was barely able to stifle the laugh that threatened to force its way out of my mouth.

Rose ignored her and rolled the dice. "Ten." She announced proudly, but then everything went strangely silent. I felt an odd prickle of power in the air and I knew without being told that Alice was having a vision.

"Alice," my mother whispered after several seconds, "What did you see?"

"Wil . . . I mean, an intruder, has been staying at our old house and is on his way here." Alice's voice still sounded distant. "He'll arrive soon, fifteen minutes tops."

"What about the Quileute patrols?" Bella asked.

"He'll get past them, and then make a bee line for us." Alice answered.

I was panicked by the level of concern in the house. Obviously an unknown vampire had slipped past the Quileute board guards and was on his way here. While it was impossible to know the individuals intentions, my mother and siblings were erring on the side of caution by assuming that he meant harm.

"Bella, get Sarah out of here," My mother ordered. I'd never heard her take charge like this before and it was a little startling. "Take her to Jacob's, Edward, Carlisle and the others are over there. Tell them what's happening. We'll hold William off as long as we can."

"Who's William?" I asked as Bella lead me towards the kitchen door.

"The delusional vamp that's on his way to pay us a call," My sister growled. "Now come on, we don't have much time." Without another word Bella slung me onto her back and launched herself off the back porch.

*****

When I pulled into the yard in front of Jake's house, I was relieved to see not only Edward's Volvo but also Ben's Jaguar. I smiled as I cut the engine and opened the door. Zafrina and her sisters pilled out of the back seat and followed me into the house. Their presence took everyone by surprise; Jake cut me an evil glare. I would have to apologize later.

"Who wants pizza?" I asked in an effort to cut the tension.

"Cool, Grandpa brought food, I'm starved." Bart sounded delighted as he took the box from me. "Awesome, a sweep the kitchen from Arnold's . . . my favorite."

I could only smile as I watched Bart dig into to his favorite fair. At seventeen he was physically much bigger that his year mates and he could easily pass for twenty five. I knew of course, that his accelerated maturation was due to the introduction of venom into his system when Sarah bit him seven years ago. Through an odd quirk in my daughter's genetics, she was able to save her then ten year old son from certain death by biting him, but the boy didn't undergo the transformation process. I later discovered Sarah's venom was 'sterile' as it lacked what I had termed 'the potency factor'.

"I see you brought gusts." Jacob observed lightly.

"Yes, you remember Zafrina and her sisters don't you?" I replied, hoping he wouldn't press the matter. I was relieved when he didn't.

We settled down in Jacob's living room and I watched in awe as Bart practically inhaled half of the large pizza. When things were calm I cleared my throat to signal to Jacob and the others that I was ready to start.

"Uhm, Bart," I began. "The reason we're here is because there's something your father and I need to tell you. I'm afraid it isn't going to be easy for you to hear, but it's necessary."

"Sure thing Grandpa," the boy shrugged after wiping his mouth on a napkin. "What's up?"

I glanced briefly at Ben, making sure he still wanted me to take the lead on this. We had discussed it during the layover in Atlanta and he felt, when it came to giving people hard news, I had more tack than he did. I wanted to make sure he still felt this way given the argument we'd had last evening. He gave me an almost imperceptible nod and I sighed with relief. In spite of our disagreement, my son-in-law still trusted me.

With that settled I turned my attention back to my grandson, took a deep breath, and began."Before I get to the difficult part, Bart, I want to impress upon you the fact that your mother and father, your Grandmother and I, and all your aunts and uncles love you very much and nothing that I say to you today will ever change how we feel about you. Do you understand?"

Bart nodded and so I continued.

"Six and a half years ago, your mother took a very great risk and saved your life. In doing so, however, she also perpetrated a lie. That lie has continued to this day. It wasn't told in malice, but rather it was meant to protect you . . . until such time as you were old enough to know the truth."

"What truth Grandpa?" Bart looked thoroughly confused.

"Patients my boy, I'm getting there." I soothed. I was grateful when Jake placed a reassuring hand on Bart's shoulder. I smiled and nodded my approval. "The night she rescued you from Alberto and his gang, in order to explain the extraordinary thing you witnessed, she told you that she was . . . a dragon. That we, her family, were in fact a colony of transfigured dragons. In order to keep you safe, we've all gone along with this ruse over the years, but now it is time for you to know the truth of our nature, and in turn, the truth of your own uniqueness."

I watched Bart's expression twist in confusion. "I kind of figured you weren't really dragons. I didn't say anything, but I stopped believing that when I was about thirteen. Will Mom be mad, 'cause I really like her dragon stories? She should write or something."

"No," I answered with a smile, I too liked Sarah's imaginative stories. "Your mother won't be mad, in fact Alice told me as much. You are right of course, we are not dragons . . . but we aren't human either, and you may find what we truly are, rather disturbing."

"What are you," He asked with an innocent chuckle, "Aliens from outer space?"

I smiled as my mind instantly recalled Sarah's theory on the origins of our species, vampire aliens from outer space. Like mother like son I sighed to myself. It didn't help matters any that that the two of them shared a similar taste in books and movies.

"No we're not extraterrestrials." I looked once more at Ben. He along with my sons seemed to be enjoying watching me squirm in my current predicament. "We're . . . vampires."

At first Bart only stared blankly at me, but then after several minuets he burst into rancorous laughter. I was at a loss, I didn't know if he was in shock or if he simply thought this was yet another lie.

"Ok Grandpa," he finally managed when his laughter simmered down to intermittent chuckles. "I get it that you and the rest of the family aren't human, I mean come on you guys have some pretty weird habits, and you're obviously not dragons, in spite of Mom's super cool stories. But, vampires . . . come on Gramps; you're not exactly the epitome of the fiend from Bram Stoker's novel. In fact none of you are, my Mom and Grandma Esme . . . they wouldn't hurt a fly let alone suck someone's blood."

He wasn't afraid at least, but he didn't believe me either. This was going to be harder than I thought. "While your right about your mother and grandmother's disposition, I assure you this is the absolute truth. We are, in fact, vampires . . . Jacob, tell him about . . ."

Before I could finish my sentence, the front door of Jacob's house exploded into a rain of splinters as Bella burst through it. Her face was a mask of horror and she had a very frightened Sarah slung like an oversized backpack on her back.

"William's at the house, Esme and the girls are holding him off, you've got to hurry."

Jacob's house cleared of occupants faster than a building on fire. I instructed Ben and Bart to stay put with Sarah and Edward insisted that Bella remain as well. Jacob phased as he leapt off the front porch and by the sound of the howls echoing through the trees I could only guess the Pack had been alerted. Zafrina and her sisters as well as my sons and I raced through the forest toward home, hoping beyond hope that we would arrive before anything unfortunate happened.

******

Seven vampires including myself and at least a dozen wolves formed an ever tightening ring around my home. From inside I could hear the voice of my mate trying to talk reason with the intruder. In response an angry male voice exploded in ugly hurtful words. Edward had assured me, when we were within range for him to hear his mother and sister's thoughts that they were all in good health.

"What have you done with Sarah?!" the voice of William demanded. "I'm losing patients with you, woman . . . answer me!"

"I've already told you, she's not here." Esme answered calmly. "Now please leave."

I felt Edward tense beside be and when I glanced over at him I could see the muscles in his jaw clinching. He loved his mother dearly and I could tell he was ready to rip into William for speaking to her in such a disrespectful manor. I too was having a hard time controlling my urge to rush in and attack.

"You'd better leave while you still can." Alice insisted. "If our mates don't rip you to bits for invading our home . . . the Pack is sure to turn you into dog food for being on their land."

"The Pack eh," William sneered. "So that what I've smelled for the past twenty miles? The Cullen coven has its own private guard . . . just like the filthy Volturi. My Father and Constantine were right about you, I'll be doing our world a favor by eliminating you."

"You won't endear yourself to Sarah by killing her family." Esme told him flatly. "She loves us very much and if you hurt us, she'll only hate you for it."

"She'll understand, once I tell her the truth about you and your relationship with those two pathetic murders, Vincent and Aloysius, who killed our family." William growled. "You're real monsters, you know that . . . marring her off to Vincent the way you did. If she knew what he did to Mom and Dad, she'd puke every time he touched her,"

That was the last straw; I couldn't listen to any more of William's poison. I turned to Edward and whispered, "Signal the others to stay alert and ready. I'm going in."

"Alone," my son hissed. "Are you out of your mind, Carlisle?!"

"You sound more and more like me with each passing decade." I patted his back lightly before standing to my full height. "I have to at least try to talk reason with William. That's not going to come off very well with an army snarling in his face."

I took a breath a started towards the front of the house. The door was standing wide open and I could clearly see William's back. I could tell he was a very young vampire, not only from what I'd gleaned from his letter to Sarah, but also from his behavior. An older more experienced individual wouldn't have chosen to attack such a large well established coven all alone nor would they have put themselves in such an exposed position. He was distracted, still arguing with Esme and the girls and, if I had been of a mind to, I could have easily taken him right then and there. He wouldn't have known from whence his destruction had come.

I ghosted up the front steps on silent feet, still watching William's back. My eyes locked briefly with Esme's but she made no outward sign that would give my presence away. In the time it took me to cross the yard I had decided what line of argument I would use to persuade William that we were not his enemies . . . unfortunately I didn't get to utter a single word of it. As I stepped towards the doorway, chaos ensued.

"You've had your chance!" William roared before leaping into the mist of Alice, Rose, and Esme. It was my unfortunate wife upon whom he landed, as she sought to put herself between the intruder and her daughters.

An angry growl tore from my throat as I burst through the open door. Suddenly the house was filled with the sound breaking windows and shattering glass as the rest of my waiting family, wolves and vampires alike, rushed in to aid in the fight. Above it all, however, one heart wrenching sound echoed with chilling clarity in my ears . . . the sound of Esme screaming in agony.

As I rushed forward into the fray, I saw Emmett grab William by the back of the shirt and toss him across the room. Zafrina and her sisters instantly engaged him. Bright crimson fogged my vision as the blood lust raged within me, I wanted to go after him myself, how dare he lay his hands in violence upon my mate. The sound of Esme's pain filled whimpers called me from my vengeful thoughts.

I left the others to tend to the intruder and turned my attention to finding and helping my wife. It didn't take long; she was sprawled on the hardwood floor right where William had landed on her. To my horror, her right arm had been ripped from her delicate shoulder and her left leg was wrenched off just above the knee. Venom oozed from her wounds, slowly spreading to form a pool on the floor around her.

I resisted the urge to crumple into a heap beside her. The sight of my gentle sweet wife mutilated and 'bleeding' in the middle of our living room left me feeling hollow and devastated, I pushed those feelings aside and pulled doctor mode to the forefront of my mind. I turned to find Edward beside me; he had an apologetic look on his face. Instantly I knew why and a growl rumbled deep within me.

"Please don't tell me he escaped." I demanded as I pinched the bridge of my nose in an effort to calm myself.

For several seconds my son said nothing. "What can I do to help?" he finally asked in a low whisper.

I already knew the truth, but Edward was doing exactly as I had requested . . . he didn't tell me William had escaped.

"Find her limbs." I instructed as I scooped my mate into my arms. "Then meet me in the lab."