Ebony Fire

Chapter 9

Vitro and 7 of his sons are now content with the battle that is planned tomorrow at dusk. This gives both them and the Cullens from now until daybreak to train and prepare themselves.

"Now that the Cullens know about our 'arrangement'," Vitro said as he stalked back and forth. "We won't have to trouble with a sneak attack. And it is all thanks to your sister, and my beloved daughter, Tarantella." She looked at him ill at ease as she sat Indian style in the middle of the floor. She continuously glanced at Star still in pain from the brutal punishment he received from Tyson. He looked at her with his head straight forward. His eyes screaming regret and ache. She also constantly saw the appear of disappointment and heartbreak in Edward's eyes in her mind.

"This is the first point in time you truly made me proud…" Vitro laid his hand at the top of her head and tangled her hair.

"I'll do anything for you…" She said with a quiet dry-heave. "Father…" He smiled down at her and then looked at his sons.

"Let us rejoice!" He announced. 7 of his sons then cheered with one hand up in a fist.

"The battle we've been waiting for has been scheduled for tomorrow at dusk! Tomorrow will be our time to show the Cullens how strong we have become! And with 10 of us against 7, they have no chance of overcoming us!" His sons cheered some more. Tarantella stayed silent. As Vitro went on with his semi-victory speech, Star sat next to her and began to whisper,

"Tarantella…there's something I need to tell yo-"

"Not now Star…" She said in a short pitch.

"But I think you should know this-!"

"I said not now!" She snapped. Star stepped back a bit and looked into her eyes. He saw something he had never seen in her before; something horrific, fuming and lethal. Vitro ignored her as he carried on with his proud triumphant words.

"And now, recognition to your sister…your mother can be avenged the way she deserves." They all cheered even louder.

"Why don't you say her name...?" Tarantella asked dully without facing him. He jerked as if he was caught off guard. Half of his smile depleted as he looked back at her.

"I already told you…" He said in a still manner.

"No…" She said. "I cannot accept that…why don't you say her name?" Vitro stayed silent as he became tense. He tried to swiftly cover his suspicion with rage.

"How dare you question my reasoning?" He shouted.

"Don't answer my question with another question…" Her teeth began to clench. Vitro then got in her face.

"I can do what ever I want!" He growled. She continued to look ahead.

"That doesn't answer my question…" She snarled back. "Why don't you say her name?"

"Because he lied…" Edward suddenly came in the room. Vitro glared at him along with 7 of his sons. He stood up and walked towards him.

"This is none of your business…Cullen." He rumbled. Edward kept his composed structure as he looked at him.

"The battle isn't until tomorrow…" Javier said across the room. In seconds, the rest of the Cullens began to appear behind him.

"We couldn't wait…" Carlisle said as he came next to Edward. Tarantella and Star grew nervous as the rest of them grinned.

"Alright then…" Vitro said happily as he gradually got into a fighting stance. "The sooner you're here, the sooner I get to-!"

"Why won't you tell her the truth?" Edward broke in. Vitro's smile vanished.

"…About what?" He asked.

"…Her life." Tarantella got to her feet as her eyes narrowed.

"Father…" She said as she stepped forward. "What is he talking about?" He quickly looked back at her.

"Nothing." He said quickly. "Don't let them brainwash you. Remember, these are the ones who killed your mother."

"That's not the truth!" Edward shouted. "We killed Hitari!"

"You told me Hitari is my mother!" Tarantella snapped.

"I thought she was! Until I read Vitro…"Everyone except the Cullens froze in distress. Edward stood fiercely as he waited for a response.

"What?" Tarantella asked anxiously.

"Tell her…" Edward said with his teeth tight together. He stayed silent as he glanced at her and his sons.

"Tell her!"

"No!" Vitro shrieked. The room sounded as if the world became deaf. Edward then walked to Tarantella.

"Fine…" He said sternly. "I'll just tell her what I heard from your…sick mind." He stood in front of her as she glared at him.

"Vitro has been lying to you…" He said to her.

"About what?" She asked.

"…Everything."

"Don't listen to him!" Vitro snapped.

"Hitari isn't your mother!" Edward raised his voice. Tarantella took a step back.

"What?"

"Nor is Vitro your father…your not even related."

"No…no, you're a liar!"

"The only liar in this room is him!" He pointed at Vitro. "He lied to you and the rest of them!" Star and the rest glanced at each other with disbelief.

"The only reason why he changed you was that he believed you were Hitari's reincarnation!" He continued. "He planned after your 20th year to seduce you! And with his ungrateful gift, he was going to make you believe that you were Hitari herself!" She looked at Vitro confounded.

"What ability?" She asked.

"He holds the ability to make anyone believe anything he wants them to. When he found you, he made you believe he was your father and that they were all your brothers. He made you believe everything you know now!" Vitro stayed silent as he stood still.

"With that being said," He looked up at all of the boys. "Javier and Tyson are the only offspring of Vitro and Hitari. The rest of you aren't related. Star already knew all of this."

"That's what I wanted to tell you…" Star whispered to Tarantella. She glanced in assorted directions between Edward, Star, and Vitro.

"Now tell me…" He continued. "Do you remember anything before you were changed?" He asked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Her eyes grew slender.

"How about this; do you remember the night he found you?" She began to shake her head but then stopped as her face became zoned. Flashes of that night become visible in her mind. Her face buried in her knees as she cried. All alone as Vitro stalked her from afar as he was fiendishly delighted by her anguish. But that was before he saw her face. Before he saw how she favored Hitari so well.

"Yes…" She then said.

"What do you remember?" Edward asked.

"I was crying." Vitro developed into being very tense.

"Why were you crying?" A flash came in her mind of her sprinting in the dark.

"I was running."

"From what?" She heard something crash through a window.

"There was something attacking me…us."

"Who is us?" She saw a man and a woman in her mind. The mad had black hair, light skin and mist green eyes. The woman had brown hair, dark skin and hazel eyes. Somehow, the figures in her thoughts morphed together and created her face.

"My…my parents...?"

"Stop…" Vitro said silently at first.

"Keep going…" Edward said. She continued to think as the memories and pictures rolled in her mind.

"Go! Run!" A woman shouted in her mind.

"Mom!" She then heard her own voice. She saw a broadcast on a T.V news channel showing a dead couple with dried blood from their necks. A woman with fair skin was speaking in a microphone how they were killed by a mysterious animal attack. Then she saw herself screaming with Vitro at her neck. As all of the images intertwined, the last thing she saw was Vitro's face smiling and chuckling evilly…before she snapped.

"You!" She shrieked as she reached her hands out at Vitro and pinned him on the wall by his shoulders.

"Tarantella!" He gasped.

"You killed them… "She whimpered as tears filled her eyes. "You killed them!"

"Father, is all of this true?" Another so-called son, Markell asked. Vitro glanced at them and back at Tarantella who had a venomous purpose in her eyes.

"Tell them the truth!" She grumbled. He stayed silent as he lifted his chin up at her. Swiftly, he broke from her clutches and pushed her off to the side. She landed on her feet at the same time as he. She gave him a sincere frown as they stood only a few feet apart. All of the Cullens stood behind her as the supposed sons of Vitro stood behind him.

"Remember when I said I'd do anything for you?" She asked him. He just stared at her as he grew anxious. She then rushed over in light speed and struck him in the jaw. He stopped himself by grabbing on the wall before he hit the ground. He stared at her dumbfounded by her sudden strength. She got into a battle stance and said to him with no hesitation,

"I take it back…"