Chapter 10 – Thank You for the Girls
A/N: Victor and his coven refer to newborns as red eyes. The Cullens call them newborns. Also Nomads, vampires that roam from place to place, are referred to as Travelers by the new coven. So when these terms are used they are talking about the same thing. I once again do not own any of these characters.
Edward POV
We arrived at the airport and had a car waiting to take us to the hotel immediately. We got Alice and Bella to check us in and we went on a reconnaissance mission. Alice was to keep looking for any signs of Mom or Dad in her visions. We were hoping that being in close proximity like this would help her get a clearer picture. We all agreed to let Jasper lead the mission to find our parents based on his military experience.
I started to suggest a plan, "We need to see if we can find a trail or something…"
"Hey Edward, I picked up your mom's scent along this road along with some other bloodsuckers. Your dad's was here also but his scent is not as strong as hers," Jake interrupted excitedly; his werewolf nose was even better equipped to discern the different smells than ours.
"Good job, wolfhound!" Emmett quipped, "Say, what kind of treats you give to werewolf bloodhounds?"
"Emmett burgers," growled Jacob, in no mood to banter with him and imagining what he would like to do to shut Emmett up.
"Careful Emmett," I laughed at what Isaw in Jacob's head, "Rose would not be happy with you if all your body parts are not in place when you return." I winced at the appendage Jacob was planning to remove first. Rose would definitely not be happy.
"Do we have to go get the girls?" asked Jasper, ready to go on immediately. "We can get mom and dad and be back before they know what happened. They don't need to be involved with this if it turns into a fight, Edward."
He was worried for Alice and all that she has been through since our parents disappeared and he appealed to me because he knew how I felt about Bella fighting. I was about to agree when I heard Alice screaming in my head before we saw them coming from the hotel to join us.
"We are already here," said Bella as she and Alice joined us on the road dressed for travel and if necessary fighting. "You know Jasper, you can't make a decision like leaving us behind, without literally telling your wife, whether you want to or not."
"I'm sorry, Hon," Jasper apologized to his wife. "I just felt like you've been through so much already. I was thinking about your well being, that's all, I swear."
"I saw it back on the plane. All of you would not be returning if you left us behind like that. You need Bella and me to be there for some reason. Not to fight, but either a vision or a shield, maybe both, is going to change things."
We all followed Jacob under the cover of darkness until we got to a large manor that seemed more than adequate for housing several vampires. I noticed the reinforced tinted windows and inaccessible top floors. The grounds were immaculate so I can only assume this was a settled coven but not a nomad group.
"This place reeks of leeches and bloodsuckers," Jacob growled as his hands started shaking furiously as if he was ready to phase immediately and turn into his werewolf counterpart.
"Calm down Jake," I said seeing the differences he associated in his mind. "We need to see what the situation is before we determine any threats to us first."
"What's with all the descriptive phrasing?" Emmett asked. "I thought we were all the same to you bloodsuckers, leecher, parasites, whatever."
"Bloodsuckers kill humans, and leeches, well, you know that's my name for you guys." he explained sheepishly calming to a low tremble. "Parasites, I used just say that to for irritate you."
"Well gee thanks, Mutt." Emmett teased. "Is this where we do our group hug thing?"
"I got three words for you - missing body parts," he answered as he looked pointedly at his crotch.
"Well that just kills all our male bonding activities here." Emmett said grabbing himself protectively.
"The only thing I am going to bond is your mouth shut, Emmett," Jacob responded. "Say Bella, does super glue work on you leeches? I want to try gluing his mouth shut."
Bella consoled, "Don't mind Emmett, Jacob, levity is his way to handle excitement."
"So what you're saying is that there are two different types of vampires around here." Jasper concluded bringing us all back into focus. "I agree with you, and my biggest concern is they seem to be newborns; not nomads."
Alice's eyes glazed over. "You are right, Jazz. It seems an unwelcoming party is awaiting us. That is why all of you would not have returned to us if Bella and I had not come along."
"This is going to be so good," sneered Jacob. "Vampires I get to kill and don't have to apologize for later. Oops, sorry guys." He realized we were all staring at him.
"But why is that a problem, Alice? You know we know how to handle ourselves with newborns," Jasper asked unsure of what she saw in her vision.
As a family we were all involved in battling a newborn army more than twice the size of our family who were intent on killing Bella in revenge for the death of another vampire's mate. Jacob and his pack helped and we defeated over twenty newborns before the Volturi Royal family and guard arrived to dispence their brand of justice. Sometimes Alice's vision did not give the whole story and were subject to change as soon as someone involved changed their mind. Then I saw the vampires involved now in her mind as they walked out the door.
"We never had to deal with them before," she replied as a vampire opened the door and stepped out, followed by three other vampires, all vegetarians like us. "That one is called Andrew and I see a battle coming between him and Bella if we come into a confrontation of any sort." She pointed to the third vampire to exit out the door.
"Well," I answered tersely, looking protectively at Bella "let's try not to piss anyone off, shall we."
One of the Vampires stepped forward with his hand extended in a gesture of friendliness. "Welcome friends, May I be so bold as to assume you are part of Dr. Cullen family?" he asked. "I am Alistair Lexington leader of this family coven. This is my son, Victor and my mate; I mean fiancé, Karyn and two more of my family Andrew and Percy."
I spoke up then. "So you know our father. Where is he? Where is our mom?"
"Our intentions have been the best, I assure you. Please allow us to offer you some hospitality while we figure out our next step," pleaded Alistair obviously misunderstanding our anxiousness for distress over losing our father.
"What are you hiding from us? Where are our parents?" Jasper piped in, unwilling to go to sit down and talk. Something was amiss and he was getting a feeling of deceit coming from them especially the one called Victor.
"Please, do come in. Carlisle has told us so much about his wonderful children. I would love to spend some time getting to know the children of dear Carlisle and his poor wife Esme," Alistair continued to overlook Jasper apparent rudeness due to our recent loss.
"Now tell me, which of you…? Ah yes, he looked at me. You are his young Edward and his beautiful bride Bella. That would make you, Jasper, I believe and this is little Alice. No mistaking you big fellow. You are his fun loving Emmett who has a penchant for bears. But where is your Rosalie?" he asked confused. "I assumed you all would come to settle things for your loved ones arrangements. Please come inside and let us remember my friend well."
He then addressed his son, "Victor would you get Ms. Cullen so that she can be reunited with her children in this dark hour."
"Wait father. Are you sure about this?" He asked uncertainly. "These are strangers. We cannot be sure of their intentions. Need I remind you of Emilene and Amelia? We must be careful."
"Perhaps it is you, who should be careful, Victor," I spoke then.
I suddenly understood the motivations behind this vile creature before me. My temper kicked in and I lunged at him immediately and had it not been for Emmett and Jacob grabbing me, would have torn his head off on the spot. I saw his intentions toward my mother and that he was hiding something about my father also.
"I can read your mind Victor and what you have done is an abomination to our kind," I was livid. As I spoke I saw him making newborns to secure himself an army. "Where are our parents? What have you done to them? He has also made several newborns," I told my family. Everyone faced Victor and glared.
"You see father," Victor proclaimed almost hysterically. "Did I not warn you they were not to be trusted? What unfounded accusations this one throws at us for no reason."
"I have reasons Victor," I replied, "and I am talking only to you; these ministrations you are involved in are dangerous ones. When I say I can read your mind, it is not just a feeling I get. I hear and see everything you do word for word and memory for memory."
"You see me helping you mother," he sneered trying to convince his own family of his innocence. "You see me too late to help your father."
"Stop it!" Alice screamed now. "He is not dead. I saw it. He is alive and hurt and under some kind of barrier. It's like he's buried alive under something I cannot see."
"Victor!" Alistair boomed at his son. "Is there no bounds to how many times you can disobey and disappoint me? Have you brought any harm to my friend Carlisle and his wife? Exactly, where are they? Tell us now."
"You would side with them," he sneered at his father, baring all his hatred and contempt at that moment. "Have you noticed that I am not surprised? I expected as much. That is why I had to take matters into my own hands."
Victor moved away from his father and started heading inside the manor. "I knew you would not be able to lead much longer, Father, and it is time for some new ideas here. PERCY!"
Percy moved to another door and opened it. Out poured several newborn vampires who looked to Victor for their instructions.
"Did we seriously just walk into the middle of a coup here?" Emmett balked unbelievably. "Talk about bad timing."
"Oh no," Victor chided hearing Emmett's balk. "Your timing is perfect for me to be rid of you all. Andrew! Shut them down! We will not be threatened by them. Protect our coven and you and yor sister will be spared."