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Chapter 10:

Departure

-Dragan-

I am...happy Carlisle's family took the child's existence so well. They will be leaving shortly and my nose and my mind can be at ease. My sons have been aloof since Amari was presented to her family. Viktor, untrusting boy that he is, isolated himself and Jarek in their living space. Jarek, if he possessed the strength would have objected; but he didn't. I cannot blame Viktor for his over protective streak and I cannot blame him for the anger he has with me for letting his brother do something so foolish. He gets it honest, too much of me in him and not enough of his mother.

I know they are both, in their own way, dealing the child leaving us. She seems to form an instant bond with everyone she comes in contact with and I find myself fighting my own sadness. I do not so much want, to see her go, but it is better she be with the Cullens. Their existence, though they move regularly, is more consistent; more lifelike than ours. They do not know it but they will not remember this as it happened. Deja and I discussed it before Carlisle arrived. Deja knew his family would follow him, already aware of Alice's gift.

I sigh, stalking the length of the veranda and back again. My sons left a few hours ago, Jarek caught wind of an uninvited guest crossing into our territory. They had left abruptly. No sense the intruder getting close enough for the mind listener to hear. That kind of confrontation is the last thing this situation needs. I study the swampy landscape, inhaling deeply. Just stagnant water, and the humming of bugs. How I miss the cold bite of the north. There is nothing there to distort a sound, or stifle a scent. I growl in frustration.

I do not know how much longer we can linger here. This is Deja's home, and it has been for centuries, even before the settlers of France and Spain came. They, of course, brought stories of their homeland with them; and never bothered the "crazy" woman that lived alone in the swamp. The Creoles gave her an even wider birth; once the "crazy" woman became the "Voodoo Witch of the Southern Bayou" and had been seen with a companion that "stood two heads taller than any man, and breathed fire". I chuckle, remembering how they completely believed I was a demon the "Voodoo Witch" had conjured up. It is odd now, to have the same families that once avoided us clinging to us like leeches.

They are undeniably loyal, and in turn we supply them with resources to keep food on their families' table. I cannot argue the arrangement is not perfect. My sons are healers after all. The Creoles that live here never have to leave the swamp and that's how they prefer it. Still, I fear for their safety if we leave. Deja will, of course take the deed with her so that no one can take this land from our human friends; but there are other forces at work besides the greed of men. We keep the intruders at bay, our human camouflage kept safe by our own eating habits. They will not come to harm so long as we are here.

The other issue is my sons. This swamp is all they have ever known; its people who accept them for what they are; the only human contact they have ever had. Where-ever we do end up I fear the headaches I will have due to the amount of memories I will have to change when they slip up. But they are my sons and I will do what I must to protect them; blinding pain or no. Speaking of headaches. I sigh again, rubbing my temples; grateful the mind listener cannot understand my thoughts. I do not envy the frustration my family must be dealing with. Where as I speak only my language unless pressed, and even then it is horribly broken; Deja and our children constantly change between the two. For Deja sometimes more depending on her mood. She had once cursed at me in ten different languages for ruining her finest Egyptian throw. I chuckle at the memory of how absurd it had sounded. The broken thoughts that Carlisle's son is catching must be maddening.

The Cullens memories I am to change are many, and what I am to change them to even harder. On top of the problem with the one called Bella. Her mind is cast in an iron wall and she glances at me when I test her shield's strength. She can tell when her privacy is being threatened. I realize. Carlisle told us all that had happened after Renesmee birth, explaining that none of the Volturi can affect Bella with their gifts. Her memories are safe from Aro. I confirm with myself, involuntarily spitting just thinking his name. But it changes nothing. Her memories must be changed just like the others. Her shield can be dropped if she chose. That alone makes keeping her memories dangerous. But how to get passed her shield? Another growl escapes the depths of my chest.

The scent of musk and fresh rain surrounds me and pulls my gaze to the door of the house. A knowing smile rests on my wife's lips. I hope she has come up with a better solution. My arms fold over my chest and I meet her piercing gaze. The woman is maddeningly quiet at times, and at the others you wish she never learned to speak. She shakes her head as if she can hear my thoughts, moving to stand before me.

"You worry too much you know," she mutters patting my cheek. My eyes slip shut and I lean into her hand. The draw she has on me is nearly unfair. I sigh aggravated, as her hand slides from my cheek and onto my arm, "It will be a little longer until they leave."

"So you only come to tell me I have more time to think," I growl in my own tongue, turning from her, though every muscle in my body screams in is the first time she has vocally acknowledged my presence since Amari's birth. As I said, the woman can be infuriating. My kind are overly jealous by nature but I feel like a foolish green teenager. All her time has been spent with everyone but me. The one called Alice berating her with questions. I can still hear the river of interrogation. How did you meet Carlisle? How did you know we would follow him? Is there a way to protect ourselves from Moon Fire? Oh little Seer, if you only understood what our true nature is. I think. If you only understood just how easy it would be...

"Dragan..." Deja sighs deeply, and my will crumbles; as it always has and always will. I turn back taking her in my arms. She forgives me of course and I feel it in her touch. How I wish my sons to feel this. How I wish my sons to finally understand the pull of their other part. Peace washes over my frustration and my tense muscles relax.

"Luchshe?(Better?)" she murmurs resting her forehead on the bridge of my nose.

"Da(Yes)," I reply, breathing her in again. The use of my language does not go unnoticed, and I feel the fire roaring through my veins begin to slow. She is the calming flame. The one who sets the pace. No matter how angry I become. How much rage builds inside me, she can calm it. I wonder if it is same for all of our kind. But there are not many to ask. The last time we came across others of our kind it had not been a pleasant experience. The scar that still remains on my shoulder stings at the reminder.

"I came to tell you, I have perhaps thought of a better way." She whispers, aligning my hand with her own between us. Our way of speaking without speaking. Her voice fills my mind in my language. I smile, even the mind listener stands no chance of overhearing. "Everything, from the moment their lawyer received my telephone call, it all must be erased and rewritten. Henri, their lawyer, make him the one they went to retrieve the child from. Their memory of the vision will need to be altered as well. Remove the memory she saw entirely. While I don't know whose memory it belongs to it is much too dangerous for it to remain. Have her only have seen Henri had something for them. When they have returned home, Jarek can skry for them and you should have enough of a connection through the child to make the change."

"Deja...this is too risky. I've never done something like this before. On this scale anyway..." I counter. :And what of the mind listener's mate and the human?"

"They have names Dragan." she scolds. "I have discussed things with Bella. She understands the risk to us by her knowing we exist even if her thoughts are masked from Aro. If it came down to protecting us or protecting her family she agrees on who she would choose. She is more than willing to bring down her defenses when the time comes. As for Henri we will make a trip to see him, just the two of us. It will work."

I cannot argue with her. If Deja says something will work, it will work. After a few thousand years of her always being right, you stop questioning. I run my finger along her jawline and nod my agreement.

"Are you going to tell me what the vision was about? " I question. "It seemed to unsettle you greatly."

"She saw the death of a Sheeling. She saw something she wasn't supposed to. Seers are only supposed to be able to see what's in front never what's behind. This could be very dangerous for her. If Alice's power is evolving into what I think it is and that snake Aro discovers it, he will destroy all in his path to gain her."

"The soldier he will not allow that." I mutter. "He is made of a different metal than the others."

"He is but he cannot take on the entire Volturi coven on his own." She answers exasperated. "A very powerful Sheeling's memory infected Alice with its moon fire...but alas I could not see who. Whoever it was though, suffered horrendously. I'm afraid Jasper went through much more pain than he admits. I fear for them. I fear for the child and what her future may hold. Her true nature must never be known. Not by her or by her family. As much as I do not wish to lie further, you must change what is known of her parents as well. We came across creatures of the wolfkins kind before. Do you think they still live?"

"Yes." I reply.

"Use that. It breaks none of their laws. The snakes will have no grounds to come after them." Deja concludes breaking the connection and turning to take in the landscape, reverting to her adopted native tongue. "How is Jarek?"

"Jarek is recovered. I should not have let him come with me...Viktor is not going to let him out of his sight for a decade." I reply continuing in russian,.

"He wants to be his own person so badly. The boy is bullheaded...like his father," my wife teases. "Jarek is going to do what he wishes to do when he wishes to do it. And Viktor will chase behind like he always has. But no more sneaking off on adventures without Viktor in toe in future yes?"

"Yes."

"Speaking of...where have they gotten off to?" She questions.

"Jarek, he sensed another one. It is the eighth time in three months that they have come running scared into our territory." I answer.

"What are we going to do, Dragan?" she whispers, pulling away from me enough to look up at me. "If it comes to leaving this place..."

"The boys will adjust," I murmur, hugging her to my chest, sharing the burden of her sorrow. "He's been gone for centuries Deja."

"He's always come back...," her voice is thin, and I feel her quiver; my arms tightening about her again subconsciously.

"There was always the possibility of him not coming back, love." I remind her. "He was never truly happy here. He is wild by his nature, and was never meant to be tamed."

"You envy him." she points out.

"Yes and no." I reply. "Envy that he is able to run the tundras without worry, but pity for him, that he will never know peace."

"It pains me how much you miss your home." she admits.

"Yes," I agree, perching her chin on my finger. "But I said goodbye to the cold ages ago. You, Viktor and Jarek are my home now; no matter where we spend our existence."

My wife's beautiful smile, breaks across her pristine face; her eyes shining like stars. She pivots herself onto her toes and brushes my lips with her own. A massive shudder travels down my spine, another reminder just how much I am at her mercy. She hums, pleased with my reaction.

"There will be time for that later, Moya temnaya(My Dark one)." she sighs. "Come they are ready."

I follow Deja into the still air of the house. The Cullens are gathered in the foyer, Amari wrapped snugly and securely in the arms of the one that she will know as mother. If not for the seriousness of this farewell I think I would be smiling. I duck my head slightly, and the mind listener's wife responds in kind. I feel the growing absence of her shield as she dissolves it completely. I slip my way into each of their minds, setting the false memories in place, and slipping back out without being noticed. I bury the guilt deep within. No sense giving the soldier reason to be suspicious.

My duty complete, I join Deja. She is telling Amari goodbye. The child, though only days old, comprehends much. Her little hand reaches out to me and I am compelled to place my finger in reach; as I had done the night she was born. I had after all been the first thing her eyes had seen when they opened. Her mind is as clear as glass and there is no resistance. For her there will be no replacement, only blurred images she will never see clearly. It is a better choice for someone so young. I feel soiled as it is altering this innocent creature. Warmth washes over me, and I know she understands this is goodbye, as her small mouth turns up in a grin. She lets go of my finger and is passed back to her surrogate mother.

"The ferry man is waiting to take you back to the mainland," Deja informs them, in english. "Your vehicles will be waiting of course, they have been well guarded since you left them."

Goodbyes are kept short. The Cullens take off into the night quickly, dawn will break in a few hours. As they fade from both my sight and sense of smell; I breathe a little easier. Goodbye little one. I bid her silently.

From somewhere beyond the unmistakable sound of howling drifts over the bayou. My sons have found their prey. Deja gives me a gentle nudge towards the swamp. She can feel my want to join them.

"No," I sigh, shaking my head. "I will not leave you behind."

"Who said anything about me staying behind?" she grins, dashing off into the wilderness. I chuckle in amusement before bounding off after her. My muscles quake, my bones shift as I barrel forward. My surroundings become sharper more vivid in the glow of the moonlight. The earth gives way under the thick pads of my paws.

Deja and I will head off the intruder from the south. It won't even know we are there until it is too late. I feel my mouth flood with liquid fire, at the smell of its fear and desperation. A prey's fear almost tastes as good as the prey itself, almost. I break through the underbrush, knocking the intruder into a nearby tree; giving my sons the time they need to catch up. They are quick in their movements, pinning the creature to the ground. My wife moves forward, slashing open its throat, a small portion of her fire entering in through the wound. It would be quick, we were not malicious in our killings. It twitches and its eyes lose focus, the fire is spreading rapidly. I feel a small twinge of guilt for lying to Carlisle and his family but our true nature, what we and partially Amari, really are must remain a secret for eternity.

The soft crunch of Viktor severing its head from its body fuels my hunger; as the precious quicksilver flows free onto the ground. It is few and far between when my family shows their feral side, but for us, there really is no other way to feed properly. I sit back on my haunches and partake of the meal with them. Though I know I should, I cannot feel guilty for taking its life. It is the law of the jungle. Survival of the fittest. I reason, and my family growls in agreement.