A/N: Here's an extra long chapter for you! :)

~Enjoy

Rebekah Mikealson

I groaned. Highlights. That was not going to work. I settled on vague. Yep, that would work. I would just skip over what we were going to talk about tonight.

"After 1332, I traveled around, never staying in the same country longer than 20 years or so. I met a lot of interesting people, learned several languages, and during the last century I earned a few degrees from various colleges."

"Don't be angry with me, Rebekah. He was stumbling around in the dark. I merely offered him a torch." He waved a hand dismissively at Jacob.

"Thanks, Eli." Elijah turned back to glare at Jacob. He obviously didn't like the nickname. I couldn't help but grin.

"What degrees did you earn?"

I turned my attention back to Jacob.

"I have degrees in various languages from various colleges. I have a Doctorate in Anthropology and Archaeology from Cambridge, and a Masters of Physics from Oxford. I was hoping to apply to be a Probationary Research Student there this year to start on my Ph. D in Astrophysics, but I got a little sidetracked." Bella looked a little confused. "I promise I'll tell you about it later, Bella." I really didn't want to have to get into the whole Doppelgänger thing in front of everyone. At least, not until I had time to talk to her about it first.

"Holy Shit! You must be smart," Seth exclaimed from the couch. My brother wore an equally astounded look on his face. I raised my eyebrows at him.

"What? A blonde girl can't be smart?"

The rest of the day had everyone pulling stories out of me about my exploits. Jacobs favorite was a prank I pulled after I first started studying at universities. One night during finals, I took apart the dean's classic car and reassembled it on the roof of the science building. I think Jacob was just excited that I knew something about cars. He and Seth left later that afternoon to meet up with the pack. I decided to talk to Bella later that night, because she was going to sleep over anyway.

We slowly pulled up to the clearing a couple of hours after sundown. My brother always liked being fashionably late. Damon tossed his empty bag of O neg in the floorboard as we climbed out of the car.

The scene before us was interesting. The Wolves stuck to the tree line, while the Cullens were in the clearing demonstrating techniques.

We made our way down and were not surprised when they all stopped.

"Welcome. I hope you don't mind. We started without you." Carlisle greeted us as we came down. Jasper gave a quick correction to Rosalie before heading our way as well.

I quickly searched the tree line for my russet colored wolf. I spotted him and waved.

"There are only two things you really need to know about Newborns," Jasper stood in front of us, "They are very strong and very inexperienced. That means don't go for the obvious kill and never let them get their arms around you." I found I liked his no nonsense approach to this. No small talk, just right down to business. "We've been sparing with Emmet since he is the strongest among us. Would one of you care to try?" He stepped aside and gestured to Emmett. The other Cullens had already left the clearing to join Carlisle.

"Sure, Why not?" Damon grinned stuck his hands in his pockets and made his way over to the clearing.

"So, Are we just going to go at it, or do I get to set the mood first?" Damon continued to grin.

Immediately a thick unnatural fog began to fill the clearing. I could see a mild panic begin to set itself into Emmett's features. He charged at Damon, but Damon leap and shifted through the darkness taking his raven form. Emmett looked around confused as the fog rose several feet above his head obscuring his vision completely. I saw the dark figure of the raven dive into the fog. The following minutes were filled with the thuds of landed punches and curses of missed ones. Then just a suddenly as it appeared, the fog dissipated into the night, revealing Damon standing next to a prone Emmett, who quickly climbed to his feet rubbing his head.

"Well that was fun. We should do it again sometime." Damon winked at Emmett, stuck his hands in his pockets and walked back over to us.

"Why don't you go next Rebekah?" I wasn't surprised at my brother's suggestion. I knew he really just wanted to observe. He was an extremely capable fighter he didn't need to brush up. Neither did I really, but he didn't know that.

I strode to the center of the clearing and eyed Emmett.

"Need a minute?"

He shook his head as if to clear it. "No."

I slowly unsheathed the daggers at the small of my back under my shirt and held them in front of me. Emmett stood there staring at the daggers for a second before charging. It wasn't very long, but it was long enough for me to grab his mind. It was one of the many little tricks I had learned over the years. Messing with your opponents emotions during a fight can seriously affect the way they react to your attacks. I chose to make Emmett overconfident.

His first swing was carelessly thrown at my face. I ducked under it easily and spun around behind him and kicked him square in his lower back. His own momentum coupled with the strength of my kick sent him flying across the clearing. I chanced a glance at my brother and saw him arch an eyebrow in question. I laughed and saw Emmett charge me out of the corner of my eye. I jumped at the last minute summersaulting over his head to land behind him again. I chuckled as he spun around looking for me again.

"Over here, Emmett!" I waved at him and could see the steam coming from his ears. I took my chance to increase his anger. That would make him even more careless.

He didn't charge this time. Instead he took two steps to get in range and made to punch my face. I quickly brought up my left hand and deflected his punch across my body. I spun around his side and used my momentum to power my right arm as it sliced down his back. The fight was over.

I turned to see my brother's reaction. He didn't know about my daggers. There was surprise etched into his face. Triumph colored mine. His quickly turned to alarm. I tried to turn back around, but realized my mistake to late. Emmett had his arms around me fast enough to break one of my ribs. I cried out and heard a distressed howl from the tree line. I quickly decided to go to plan B before he broke another. I shifted.

I didn't shift into my standard golden eagle form. Emmett would still be able to keep ahold of me. I shifted into what I called a Dark Wisp. I was completely without form, simply a dark shadow. I flew around behind him and rematerialized latched onto his back, one hand, clutching a dagger and his hair, jerked his head back while the other held a dagger to his throat. I bared my fangs and let out a threatening hiss.

Immediately, I felt my anger subside. An eery calm replacing it. I looked to my brother and Damon, but they were still in shock. Neither had ever seen what I had become before. It wasn't them, messing with my head. My eyes found Jasper and I knew it had been him. He must be an empath or something.

"I yield!" Emmett through his hands up in the air in surrender. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me."

I jumped down from his back and retracted my fangs. "It's my fault, really. I should have remembered to release your emotions." I took a look at the cut on his back. It was already mostly healed. A few more minutes and he would be as good as new. I pulled up the back of my shirt and sheathed my daggers before walking back to my brother.

I could hear a whine coming front the tree line. I waved my hand up in the air.

"I fine Jacob. Honestly, all better."

Carlisle and Jasper stared at me with wide eyes clearly filled with apprehension and fear. Apparently my reputation preceded me. Just Great.

Jasper opened his mouth to ask a question, but I raised my hand to silence him. "Later, I promise."

Jasper inclined his head to my brother, but Elijah shook head. Somehow I knew he wouldn't be leaving Bella's side with so many sups around.

"That's it for tonight then." Jasper turned to walk back to his family.

"Wait a minute. Aren't you gunna take a shot?" Emmett pointed at my brother.

"I don't need the practice."

Jasper frowned at Emmett.

"I think you don't want to be outdone by your little sister," Emmett goaded.

I rolled my eyes. You don't have to do this, Elijah.

We both know that I do.

He held his hand out to me asking for a dagger. I quickly unsheathed and gave one to him. Then, I took his place by Bella's side as he walked over to the center of the clearing.

He stood, holding the dagger at his side, a couple of yards away from Emmett. Emmett began his characteristic charge.

"Stop."

Emmett halted mid stride. He looked curiously at my brother before taking another step.

"Do not move, Emmett."

I cocked my head trying to figure out what was going on. If I didn't know better I would say he was compelling Emmett, but it was nearly impossible to compel them. I had only managed it once on a 2 year old.

My brother threw the dagger into the ground at Emmett's feet then put his hands in his pockets and smiled.

"Pick it up."

Panic laced Emmett's eyes as he leaned over and pulled the blade from the ground.

"Hold it to your throat."

Emmett complied again. My mouth dropped open. He was being compelled. Elijah waited for Emmett to yield.

"I can make you do a great many things, Emmett, none of them pleasant. Yield."

Emmett still would not yield. My brother rolled his eyes.

"Stab your thigh."

Emmett lodged the blade in his thigh and looked at it in horror as pain filled his face.

"I yield," he said while crumpling to the ground. Elijah walked over to him and pulled the dagger from his leg.

"There, that wasn't so hard, was it?" He walked back to us and handed me back my dagger. "Where are we going to have our little chat?"

Sam and Jacob came out of the woods shirtless and human to join our little group.

"I sent the rest of the pack back to their duties. Elijah, is it? I'm Sam, the Alpha." he held out his hand.

"Of course you are." Elijah shook it briefly.

Jacob walked over to me and lifted my shirt to see my injured ribs. A low growl emitted from his chest as he caught sight of the already yellowing bruises. "Mind if we take this meeting back to your place. The Cullen's place reeks."

I reached up and tilted his face to meet my eyes. "They'll be gone before I get home. Promise." I stood on my toes and gave him a reassuring kiss.

"Let's take this back to our place, Brother. I think the wolves will like it better."

Bella fell asleep on the ride home. I was a little worried. She hadn't said much of anything throughout the training or the ride home. She tossed and turned in her seat, obviously troubled by her dreams. I broke my rule just this once and took a quick peak. Not long enough to invade her privacy, but long enough to ascertain if it was a nightmare that was troubling her.

It was. I quietly sent it away, and gave her a deep dreamless sleep instead. I pulled out of her mind and saw her relax into her seat. Elijah carried her to my room and laid her in my bed while Carlisle, Jasper, Sam, and Jacob arrived.

Carlisle and Jasper shared the couch. I grabbed an armchair and Jacob took the floor at my feet leaning back into my legs. Sam sat on the hearth beside us. Elijah arrived and took the remaining chair while Damon poured himself a glass of scotch and stood by the kitchen. Carlisle opened the discussion.

"I thought it would be good if we were all on the same page. What do you know of our kind?"

"Everything." My response garnered the attention of everyone in the room, especially my brother.

"Maybe this is a tale best told from the beginning?" He asked. I nodded my head. He knew I didn't want to talk about Henrik. I knew this would be the first time he would leave nothing out.

"Our parents journeyed to this land in the late 10th century, with their small village, to escape a sickness that had revenged our land. Our mother and two of her fellow witches accomplished this feat." I cringed at the term. He was using names they would understand so he would not have to stop and explain himself. I would have to do the same.

"We lived alongside a tribe of werewolves. Because of their inability to control their dual nature, our neighbors showed us a system of caves where we would be protected from them during the full moon. Our youngest brother Henrik was obsessed with the wolfmen." I pulled my feet up into the chair with me and hugged my knees to my chest.

"One full moon, he convinced his older brother NiKlaus to stay with him and watch the men become wolves. When we emerged from the caves, NiKlaus was staggering back into the village caring Henrik's lifeless body."

Tears began to run down my face. I quickly reached up a wiped them away.

"My father did not blame them for killing his youngest son. He blamed NiKlaus. Convincing our mother that our people needed protection was not difficult. She communed with her spirits and they provided an answer. That night we were all fed wine that had been laced with the blood of a Doppelgänger. Our father then ran each of us through with his sword.

"When we woke up the next morning, he brought a young girl to us and we completed our transition by drinking her blood, becoming the first vampires. Our father Mikeal, myself, Finn, NiKlaus, Kol, and Rebekah." Shock colored their faces as they looked around at each other to make sure they heard correctly.

"We quickly discovered one of our weaknesses was sunlight. Our mother was able to combat this with our daylight rings. Our biggest weakness was the white oak tree that our mother drew energy from during her spell. Its wood was the only thing that could kill us permanently. We were also unable to touch the herbs that grew at its base. They burned like fire.

"When the first full moon came, our mother's greatest shame was revealed. NiKlaus was not our father's son. He was a hybrid. He had all the strengths of both species, yet none of their weaknesses. Nature would not stand for such an unbalance of power. In a vain attempt to gain back the favor of Nature, our mother bound his werewolf side. Filled with a jealous rage, our father went to the home of my mother's lover and slaughtered everyone. He came back and found that NiKlaus had accidentally killed our mother in anger when she would not lift the bound. They were the only witnesses to her death and we chose to believe NiKlaus's lie that our father had come back and killed our mother. He fled with promises of retribution.

"We had a hard time adjusting afterwards. It was easier to turn our emotions off and let the bloodlust take control. We eventually turned to our own village for blood. When Rebekah found out she threatened to kill all of us unless we left. She was the only one that maintained her role of protector throughout the ordeal. I convinced my brothers to leave avoiding bloodshed."

He looked to me, waiting for me to continue the story.

"They left in 1332. Almost fifty years later, a Cold One made its way to our village. The villagers knew of me and when it's victims were discovered they assumed that the victims were mine. I killed the Cold One, but they still came after me. Rather than fight my own people I fled.

"I spent the next 600 years or so hunting them. Trying to learn everything about them. Eventually, I discovered their origin." I had everyone's complete attention. Even Damon, his glass of scotch left forgotten on the bar.

"I traced it to Kol's bloodline. He turned so many during those first years it washard to trace back to him. One of them was a man named Abram. He convinced a witch to use her power to change him. He was the beginning of the Cold Ones. The Great Mother was so angry at the misuse of her power that the witch was striped of her abilities. But the damage was already done. She combated the imbalance by creating shifters to hunt them." That was enough. They would have to ask for details.

Carlisle spoke first, "Aro always claimed to be one of the oldest, but I could never get him to talk about anything like this."

"Abram turned Aro. I assume you are talking about the Volturi." I dropped my feet back to the floor. Jacob pulled one of my legs over his shoulder and hugged it in reassurance.

"You are the Shadow." Jasper finally spoke. I nodded my head. I knew he and Carlisle figured it out once they saw my Dark Wisp. I gained the nickname and fame associated with it during my years as a hunter. My brother shook his head in disbelief.

"How did that escape my knowlegde?" he questioned. I met his eyes.

"Know one knew. I kept my identity well hidden. The Great Mother gifted me with the form you saw today."

Jasper's phone beeped indicating a text message.

"Alice says they will be here the day after tomorrow. We need to talk strategy." We all nodded in agreement.

"I think the clearing we've been training in would be the best place to lure them. We would have the advantage. Rebekah, do you have anymore of those daggers?"

I shook my head. "They were a gift, made from the Lion teeth of a shifter. I am really more of a ranged fighter anyway. I have a bow and arrows that I normally use for fighting. They are tipped with shifter teeth. I typically dip them in my blood before using them."

They all sat amazed. I guess they never really thought of anything like that before. A short while later a plan was hatched. If Bella agreed to participate, then she would lay a trail leading them to the clearing, where we would pick them off.

I yawned and stretched. "I'm gunna head to bed."

"I'll walk you up."

I shrugged, but didn't stop Jacob from following me.

He stopped me just outside my door. Spinning me into a searing kiss and crushing me up against the wall. His hands slid down my sides. When they reached my hips, he picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist, my hands entangled in his hair.

I could feel all of his worry and insecurity in the kiss. I scared him today when Emmett crushed me. He was afraid to lose me. I answered his kiss with a passion all my own, wanting him to know that I understood because I was afraid to lose him too. Slowly and all to soon, he pulled away and rested his forehead against mine.

"Bella is staying with me tonight."

"I know."

My feet found the floor again. I reached up and kissed him again.

"Soon, Jacob." I disappeared into my room and closed the door with one last look into his eyes.

A/N: I messed with the cannon background of the Originals a little. I think it fits with my story better this way. I promise there will be some Bell/Bek scenes in the next chapter. How'd the action scenes play out? I usually have a hard time with them, so if something seems off or doesn't make since, let me know so I can improve. Reviews make me smile!

PS. One more question...Would any of you mind a lemon in any future chapters? (I would, of course, up the rating.)