Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight, but not Merged Souls: Trying for Normal
Author's Note:
Chapter 9
AlasPOV
"This is where things get muddled." I'm not too sure how I should proceed. "Alger told me that Donna had run away from an abusive home when she was seventeen, she will soon be nineteen." I could see the shock run across the faces of the women in the room. "It seems that stepdaddy dearest was a bit obsessed with Donna; and he sexual abused her at least according to Penny. And then Mommy died suddenly leaving Godard with nothing. So the stepfather is more than a little pissed and he wants as he put it his due. Donna apparently comes from a very comfortable estate in Wiltshire, they have a villa here in Tuscany and a summer place in Canada at some place called Muskoka."
Alice was looking pensive."Alastair did he show up before or after Donna went missing?"
"I already thought of that Alice. Mr. Godard is still here in the Tuscany home spending money he doesn't have to find a daughter that isn't his. I think Donna might have gotten wind of him or saw him and just reacted."
Alice being a persistent little thing continued. "Yes but even if that is the case she would have contacted Alger surely. This is the information age, she should have been able to get a message to him."
"Alger swears he hasn't heard from her at all."
Edward looked over at me and was eyeing the papers I had in my arms. "I suppose Alastair that you have been doing research on Donna and Godard and that's it?"He nodded toward the pile in my arms.
I swallowed and looked him in the eye. And that was no easy feat when Edward was like this. He has always been more intimidating than any of the other Cullens and even more so now that he is married and a family man. "Fancy you should ask that, and the answer is yes and no .This is actually the research that Aro had been doing on shapeshifters. And it would seem we have a bit of a quandary. Did you know that there are shapeshifter clans all over the world? Each is unique to the region they inhabit. Some are not even aware that others exist like your Quileute friends. In some of the clans it's a recessive gene that responds to a particular trigger again like your friends. Others do not appear to have any particular reason to exist so one could postulate that they are either another step on the evolutionary scale or an anomaly that runs in a family like blue eyes or copper coloured hair. This seems to be the case with the Godard and the Richmond families, Donna is a Richmond. But over the last century it has been dying out with the introduction of, how should I put it foreign blood. Aro's research indicates that the two families have monitored and even manipulated their blood lines for generations to persevere the mutation, as to why they would do this he had no idea."
Edward sat up straighter and looked at his siblings he nodded to Jasper; Wales noted the exchange and rolled his eyes. So Jasper turned to me. "Okay you're telling us that shapeshifters are all over the world and not all of them are in reaction to vampires?"
Leave it to one of the Cullens to state the obvious but I did not rise to the bait to confirm his supposition. But then he continued, so maybe he had just thinking out loud and not stating the obvious. "Could Donna's disappearance be linked to the shapehshifting? We know that with the Quileute's they must at least reach puberty before the trigger causes them to transform. What I'm thinking here is that Godard may be looking to preserve the trait. There is a harsh example in human history of this back in my days as a human some plantation owners would breed their slaves for certain desirable characteristics. So if as you say the line is dying out in both families could this be an attempt by at least one if not both to strengthen the trait."
How disgusting to even think about it. Even though I had viewed humans for centuries as cattle I just couldn't imagine humans treating each other as breeding stock! "Jasper are you actually talking about a human breeding program in this day and age?"
"Alastair it's not significantly different from humans screening for certain genetic anomalies so as to avoid bringing children into this world with terminal or disabling conditions."
Bella was horrified by her brother's assertion "Jasper in those cases the people love each other and don't want to bring a child into the world to suffer. This sounds like forced breeding to preserve something that perhaps should die out."
Jasper smiled softly at his sister, "I'm not disagreeing with you little sis, I'm just looking at it from the other side."
Alice had been staring at Roma I still had a hard time thinking of her as an Ester, when she gasped. "Sexual maturity is the key when you're talking about breeding. Godard married into the family but he must have known that Donna's mother didn't have the gene after all she was Italian. He married her to get close to Donna to breed with her. Oh my god that poor girl, no wonder she ran away. How old was she when her father died?"
I shuffled through my papers and found a copy of the death certificate. "She would have been five when he was killed in an automobile accident on the autobahn. He was on a business trip in Germany. In fact his daughter is the last surviving Richmond."
Alice continued, "Only five? At that age I bet her father hadn't even thought to discuss the family history with her. And I'm willing to bet her mother knew nothing about the family legacy. Plus how much money are we talking about between the families Alastair?"
What the hell did money had to do with it I had no idea but humans are strange when it comes to money I'll give them that. I flipped through my pile of papers once again when Edward piped up picking my brain again. "Money Alastair can be as great motivator as much as preserving a dying line. It may be as simple as greed and nothing more that. You did say that Mr. Godard wanted his due."
I sighed when I thought of his reasoning he was probably right greed was a great motivator to humans. "The Richmond family assets total 25 million pounds or about 41 million dollars US. The Godard family is roughly 8 million dollars US. Eight million isn't shabby but that is the family wealth, Goddard has no personal fortune of his own. Our Mr. Godard is the youngest of three sons and Daddy is still alive."
Bella frowned. "That's still a lot of money, how old is our Mr. Godard?
Edward smiled at Bella but I could see by his face that he felt she was being rather naive. "Bella my love, for some rich people more money is always better, particularly if you don't have to share it with anyone else. You my dear don't have a greedy bone in your body and wouldn't understand."
Bella frowned but looked at me. "Edward's right I don't understand the money thing but I do understand one sided love. Edward, it's possible that Mr. Godard is Donna's Jacob?"
Edward was right his wife was naive but she was also compassionate, wanting to see the good in everyone that is until she mentioned the name Jacob. Esme had told me that story already and it was as dark and sinister as any obsession could get. Maybe Bella was like Jasper just looking at things from the other side."Mr. Godard by the way is twenty seven Mrs. Cullen."
"Please Alastair call me Bella. So no one has seen Donna or heard from her? Have you considered that she may have phased and doesn't know how to reverse the process? Edward do you remember what I told you about Sam?"
She shifted to look directly at Edward and he nodded as did all her siblings then she turned to face the rest of us. "Sam Uley is the leader of the Quileute pack and he was the first to transform. The tribe had thought that the shapeshifter gene had died out and didn't prepare their young people for the possibility of transformation. Even thought the stories survived that was all they were to the tribe was stories. When Sam transformed it was two weeks before he could shift back to his human form. And he kept what had happened to himself until one of the tribal elders recognized the signs. And even that was only because he had actually seen his grandfather transform and knew what Sam was. According to Sam is was a terrifying and disorienting experience and he actually ran away and was deep in the Washington mountains before he had a sense of self again and returned home."
Wales spoke for the first time, "I think we have conjectured as much as we can without talking to those involved; we need to talk with Alger and Mr. Godard."
"I agree whole heartedly but we have two issues that need to be dealt with before we do that your Highness. First I believe the Cullen children are ready to start gnawing on the furniture if their grumbling stomachs are any indication. And secondly I think Gideon and Ester need time alone with their son."
I walked over to Gideon and Ester and put my hand on his shoulder. "I want both of you to know Alger is in a fragile state at this moment and he does not give his trust lightly. Though he may love you he doesn't know you. He only knows of your reputation with the Volturi, a reputation I might add that he is not proud of. Aldrich, Penny and I have done as much as we can to dispel that but it will be up to you two to convince him. Therefore my recommendation is tread lightly and don't push. Get to know each other and let him bring up the subject of Donna. He knows that I have told you and hopes that the Prince and the Cullens can help. I would also suggest that once this mystery is solved that you look into some counselling. I understand that the Irish coven's hybrid Shawn is making great progress with psychotherapy for the supernatural. I never thought I'd see the day that we would be in need of vampire shrinks...ha,ha,ha." No one laughed. "Do none of you people have a sense of humour! Lighten up we'll get Donna back. Now children and anyone else who is interested let's get you to the kitchens and along the way you can see what has been done to castle Volturi."
Surprisingly all of the Cullens got up to come with us, the Wales's and Alger's parents remained behind. As we moved out into the corridor I had my first contact with the Masen's, I felt someone or thing brush up against me as we walked down the hallway and I automatically said "Excuse me." Yet no one was anywhere near me.
Edward nodded and said, "Sorry Alastair that would be my mother that just pushed past you she must have seen the Monet and Degas you have hanging here when we came in. They are great favourites of hers especially Monet. We'll have to check her luggage before we leave to make sure she hasn't lifted them." He had better be kidding those were priceless. "Come now Alastair I was joking she isn't going to steal them, at least I don't think she will."He gave me a sly smile and then I heard laughter that sound like it was mixed with wind chimes. "See that's them laughing at the idea...I hope."
I looked at Bella and then Edward. "You used to be such a serious young man Edward. I can only assume that your wife has instigated this change in you. I would say it's a shame but you were also such an angry brooding bugger, you depressed even me at times." Everyone laughed...now they laugh and I hadn't intended to be funny.
BPOV
As we moved through the castle you really got a sense of the age of the place even without Alastair pointing out the architectural transitions and you could really appreciate the beauty even considering the horrible things that have taken place here. Alastair offered to take us on a tour of the dungeons and vaults after the children had eaten. I guess he was thinking that by the time we were done that perhaps Alger and his family would be ready to run the Cullen gauntlet.
The kids were in a real state by the time we reached the kitchens Beth, Masen and Anthony couldn't decide what they like better the music room, the library or the training quadrangle. I wanted to get lost in the library. Edward and Jasper both were in awe over the collection of instruments from the ages in the music room which was more like a concert hall. The kitchen was right out of medieval castle with three walk in fireplaces with huge iron cauldrons and spits right alongside modern restaurant quality appliances. The kids hit the dessert table and I intervened before they could get started and passed around the chopped fruit and salads that the staff had prepared. Once they were done Alastair had us moving again.
We reached the dungeons finally. Those quarters hadn't improved greatly over the ages as Alastair was quick to point out and then looking at Edward he said. "I am determined to showcase the more sinister side of the castle by using the dungeons but without directly alluding to real vampires. Though there is certainly enough local legend to feed the curious on that score. Don't worry it has been thoroughly investigated and none of it has any substance we have nothing to worry about. The guard had been pretty good at being inconspicuous. Felix seems to be the only one that had a problem with that and now that he's gone I'm sure the memory of him will fade."
Edward bristled and asked. "Have you passed this one by Esme yet or Wales?"
"Edward I'm in charge of this museum! So far there isn't any board of directors or any one person that I have to report to unless you want to count Marcus. As the owner he has given me cart blanche to do what I want. That being said I do want to consult with the lot of you not for your approval as much as for content. The St. Marcus day Festival will continue to be an annual event in Volterra and it brings in considerable tourist dollars that the community can't do without. We would be stupid to not include the myth in our exhibits since the relationship between the current castle owner and the celebrant has already been acknowledge in the festival literature s well as the museum's. Edward, I worked very hard in the early days of The British Museum to keep it from becoming an albatross and I am just as devoted to his project."
I had to give Alastair credit he was passionate about this project and if you looked at it objectively he was right. But I could see Edward was having difficulty accepting this. I could also see Alastair was getting wound up about it as well. Oh well time to step in and be the voice of reason. "Edward, Alastair's intent is not to celebrate the Volturi but to merely couch the human myth of vampires into a context of the times." Edward was pinching the bridge of his nose, oh god. "Edward he's not asking you to take people on a tour with plastic fangs, so get a grip. But must say I'd love to see you in one of those long Dracula capes." I laughed, Emmett and Rose were snickering. Alice and Jasper were trying not to laugh but had ear to ear grins plastered on their faces. Edward looked like I'd slapped him, his eyes were bugged out and his mouth was open. "Oh close your mouth Edward before a fly gets in."
Edward turned to Alastair, "Fine as long as you don't sell those damn plastic fangs in the gift shop its okay by me."
Emmett frowned but his eyes lit up, and he started talking in whispers to Jazz. "Hey you two there's not a joke or a bet in sight here, so what are you plotting?"
Jazz manned up. "No plot Bells just a potential business opportunity that we'd like to discuss with Alastair when he has a free moment, alone." I looked at Edward he was smiling but shaking his head, "Don't ask Bella it's still in the development stage and no we will not be investing...well maybe we won't. Guys I think I want to be in on that meeting there maybe something there as long as it's not too cheesy."
I had no idea what was going on so I let it go, sooner or later one of them would spill the beans. Alice started to giggle and nodded when she looked at Jazz, he then looked at Edward and Emmett and they both said "we're in" at the same time. Alastair was smiling he loved it when people were supportive but I'm not sure how he'd feel after his talk with Edward and my brothers. They were all very smart businessmen, but they also acted like there were just teenagers sometimes.
As we continued on through the dungeons and the kids took turns being locked in. We skirted around some that had yet to be renovated we went onto the vaults. The vaults were enormous open areas piled high with all kinds of treasures from art work to jewellery and clothing, and furniture. And there were odd vials and beakers full of what I'd hate to hazard a guess. There didn't appear to be any rhythm or reason to how things were stored some were packed with great care while others were just piled on top of each other. As we moved through them I'd been thinking about Donna, so I mentally tapped Edward 'Hey babe what about sending the plane for Seth, he might be able to help us find Donna.'
He looked at me and screwed up his face. 'If your right and she has phased we don't know what form she's shifted into, let alone if they would be able to communicate. My mind reading should be enough besides she isn't a member of his pack.'
What was his problem? 'Edward you can only pick up thoughts within a limited range compared to a shifted wolf. So what is the issue here?'
Edward huffed and all eyes were on him, Emmett groaned. "Are you two talking dirty through your connection?"
I slapped his shoulder. "No for god's sake Emmett, not everything is about sex. We were discussing flying Seth in to help hunt for Donna. I thought he might be able to pick up on her. But Edward has a problem with that."
Emmett crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Edward. "So what's your issue with this bro? Sounds like a solid idea to me."
Edward sighed and got a little testy. "Look she's not a member of his pack so we should just leave it alone. I doubt they would be able to communicate and pixie girl over there won't be able to tell you so don't even ask her. You know she can't see them."
"Edward what's going on, don't you want to see Seth?"
'It's not that Bella. I had promised myself that I wouldn't say anything. Seth is trying not to phase anymore, he's been trying since Leah died. That's part of the reason he went to Scotland to stay clear of us until we moved. He only took the ride over with us because Sam asked him to find out what we were up to and the price of the flight was right. His sister's death was really hard on him after having just lost his Dad, and he isn't dealing well with it. He goes between hatred of us, to hating Leah to just being mad at the whole damn world. In fact Shawn has been meeting with Sue not to discuss her issues as much as to discuss Seth. He finished top in his class but that was all he was focused on. He never went out and shunned the rest of the pack. He's isolated himself and plans to continue to do so once he starts at UDUB. "
I had no idea Edward, when did you find out, on the flight?
"At first he tried to hide it but he's got so much anger that he couldn't do it and eventually caved and told me through his thoughts. He feels pretty guilty about how he feels towards us sometimes. That was one of the other reasons I didn't want him here especially after Alice saw us at the hospital in her vision it was just the icing on the cake. I know he's looking for a fight and I'm not sure he would try to win."
He took a deep breath. Beth came to him and reached up. He automatically picked her up and kissed her cheek. "But I think you're right we could use the help of someone from the pack, I'll call Sam and see what he thinks. I'd rather have Seth but one of the others maybe better under the circumstances." Beth was yawing in her father's arms, yep nap time they hadn't slept much on the plane.
"Um Alastair I'd like to take the kids back to our rooms for a nap." I got the universal groan from the kids as well as another yawn from Beth and Masen. "And then we can meet with Alger." Edward and I started back at vampire speed he carried the boys and I had Beth. They loved running with us caring them and of course running down the halls of a castle just heighten the excitement. Fortunately we didn't collide with anyone since my husband extraordinaire could hear their thoughts. And when we did come across anyone we slowed to human speed. However these times really seemed to stress Edward out and the people we encountered looked like they were frozen and stood with downcast eyes. I mentally tapped Edward 'What's going on?'
Edward stopped and threw his head back looking at the ceiling his jaw taunt. Anthony looked up too trying to see what his Dad was looking at and he said: "Everybody's terrified of Dad. They think he's going to rip their minds to shreds." Then he laughed a little but looked at his Dad in confusion, "Is that what Aldrich told them Dad is that why you were so pissed...oops sorry...upset with him when we came back from swimming? You really had Aldrich scared that's what he was thinking about when we came in the room. Did you scare him?" Edward nodded his head. "Why would he say that stuff to people? It's not true."
We put the kids down and walked the rest of the way to our rooms and I explained to kids what Aldrich had done and why. Masen was really upset and said. "That's crap Dad you should have kicked his butt."
Edward smiled and bit his bottom lip and said. "I did sort of." Masen reached out and high fived Anthony. "I told you he probably kick his ass...oops... that's sweet Dad. I would have loved to have seen that. Was it awesome Mom?"
I couldn't believe my sweet adorable babies were getting excited about their father trashing someone. Oh who am I kidding with Uncles like Jasper and Emmett I shouldn't expect anything else. Besides once it was all over I had to admit it had been kind of hot seeing Edward all strong, masculine and vamped out. I could feel myself getting that knot in the pit of my stomach and my panties were getting wet.
Edward crooked his eyebrow at me and mentally said. 'Hmm so you think I'm hot Mrs. Cullen? Well I can let the vamp out in bed if you like.'
'Damn did I leave the connection open again?'
'Yep!'
I closed it and he started to chuckle then waggle his eyebrows at me.
Anthony put his finger in his mouth and mimicked gagging.
"Oh god, not you too, you didn't hear me?"
"Nah you two are just really obvious. Aunt Rose has been teaching us how to read facial expressions and body language like that guy of the TV show 'Don't Lie to Me'."
Edward by now was laughing his head off, but shut up immediately when I crooked my eyebrow and crossed my arms.
Masen weighed in then and said. "Dad I'd watch it if I were you, or you won't be getting any for a while."
I was now officially mortified by my own children being able to read our sexual signals. I hurried them into the room they were sharing. And get this the sheets had been warmed with those old fashion bed warming pans under the sheets of each bed. They all had four posters with curtains so I saw to it that the kids were tucked in and adjourned to the sitting room where Edward was standing in front of an empty sofa quietly talking. It took me at bit to realize that he hadn't gone mad. He was in fact talking to his parents. I was really going to have to start paying more attention. I didn't even realize that they had followed us back.
"Hi guys, what's up?"
"Mom and Dad have volunteered to watch the kids while we're with the others in Wales' room. He asked them to come and get us, apparently they make him nervous."
"Edward how are you getting all that?"
"Oh we discovered or rather Ester told them that they just had to speak out loud and then I should be able to hear them. Apparently since there isn't an organic mind to read I have to use my vampire hearing to hear them. But you really have to concentrate because their frequency is so high, but once you catch it you can get the gist of what they are trying to say. Though it still involves some guess work. It takes a lot of energy for them to vocalize so I've tried to limit my questions to ones that have yes and no answers."
Okay ghosts were going to watch my children I don't know if I'm ready for that yet. "Maybe I should just stay with them this time."
"Bella my parents can get to us faster then we can get to them. They are their grandparents after all. Come on and give them a chance. Dad will come and get us as soon as they wake up okay?"
I still wasn't sure but I didn't want to insult them. Wales' room was just two doors down it wasn't that far and if there was anything to be concerned about Edward or I would hear them anyway we were also attuned to each other. Too bad our circuit didn't work at distances. Maybe we needed to explore that. "Okay then, see you later but if there's anything at all wrong come and get us." With that the TV went on and turned to the Italian version of the Shopping Channel.
Edward went over and turned it to the History Channel, confiscated the remote and said. "There, you can do some catching up on what happened during the Twentieth Century." We left them laughing but apparently sitting on the sofa.
As we walk the hundred feet to Wales' room Edward grabbed me and slammed me against the wall his eyes were pitch black and I could feel Mr. Cullen hard as a rock as he pressed up against me. He leaned in and pulled the collar of my shirt away from my neck and bit me just above my collarbone. Then he slammed his lips into mine licking my lower lip begging for entrance and once I let him in he deepened the kiss till my head was swimming. Once he released me he straightened my shirt and took my hand leading me along to the meeting with a smirk on his face. When we entered the room all eyes were on us Rose, Alice, and Reagan put out their hands to their husbands and money was passed over to them. "You couldn't have been betting us so what was it this time?"
Rose laughed and Alice tittered. "Actually Bella the bet was that Edward wouldn't make it from your room to here without kissing you."
"How do you know that we did?"
"Well if wasn't for the grins on your faces, we'd only have the bang against the wall to go on and besides I saw it."
"But that's not fair to them if you saw it Alice, so you shouldn't be collecting."
"That would be true except we made the bet just after you left our group and Edward's decision was a spur of the moment thing. So I didn't see it until seconds before it happened."
Edward was laughing his ass off. I just huffed and went to sit on his lap at least she didn't say anything about the bite but she was giving me a very knowing look, damn pixie. I looked around the room and standing to the side of the door was a young man that I assumed was Alger. He was just about six feet tall with dark brown hair and deep sapphire blue eyes. It was a stunning combination, he was pale but had a slight flush of colour across his cheeks and dark rose coloured lips he was very masculine but when he smiled he was beautiful.
I reached out my hand to him. "Hello you must be Alger, I'm Bella Cullen and this is my husband Edward." He nodded and shook both of our hands but said nothing.
WalPOV
Bella is an entrancing young woman and I can see how Edward's fascinated with her but she is rather forward for my taste. Edward looked at me and smiled I suppose happy that I was no longer interested in assessing his wife's considerable attributes. Then he immediately stopped smiling. Oh yes mind reading I forgot. "Well we've just been reviewing the details of Alger and Donna's relationship it almost sounds like a rewrite of yours without all the angst."
So if I may Alger, I'll bring our amorous friends up to date, Alger nodded. "It appears that Donna never spoke much about her parents except that she was her father's beloved daughter. And that her mother hated England, she resented her husband for making them stay in there. It was actually a stipulation of his will that Donna could not leave Great Britain until she reached the age of sixteen. At which time she was absent from her home as much as she could manage. Her mother had remarried a much younger man when Donna was fourteen and when she turned sixteen he began to accost her attempting to seduce her, she resisted and told her mother.
Bella looked upset about this. Then I remembered her abuse at the hands of Black. "Didn't her mother do anything, parents are suppose to protect their children not enable their abuser?
It may have been insensitive of me to deliver this news in such an off handed manner but this was pertinent to what had happened here. "She was a very unhappy woman Bella for many years, and she blamed her daughter for making her a prisoner of that miserable isle as she called it. But if she were to leave England then the allowance that she received from the estate would stop. So she had refused to believe her daughter's accusations and eventually accused her of trying to seduce Godard. You see she had another reason to be bitter her husband had left her nothing other than the allowance which she would lose if she even challenged the will. Mr. Richmond had had proof of his wife's frequent infidelity which he sighted in the will as his reason for excluding her.
So without any parental support or protection, and no other relatives to turn to Donna left home when she turned seventeen. She had some money readily available to her that her father had put aside for her and which her mother never knew about. And for some reason he even had legal papers prepared for her under three different assumed names. So she was able to fly under Godard's radar until she read a notice in The Times two months ago that her mother had died. She sent flowers to the funeral and that was probably her undoing. Godard eventually traced her here to Volterra.
