-Stephenie Meyer owns all her characters
Edward and Nickole entered the clearing at the same time, as if timed perfectly. Her own family standing tightly around eachother. Mahuret was standing in the middle, both her arms wrapped around Lestat and Jessie protectivly. The Cullen's stood in their own grouping. Edward walked over to Carlisle who placed a hand to his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Carlisle asked his son, giving him a little squeeze on his shoulder. Edward nodded, looking back to Nickole. She stood before all of them, bringing her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes were still blood red with anger from the moment of death she had to induce upon her maker.
"They will be at your house very shortly, I can sense Aro already. The guards will be prepared for a fight, so don't be surprised when they try to ambush us all when we get back your house Carlisle. I will explain everything but I will need a witness, and I have asked Edward for this. He said that your family would do so for myself, if you wish not to then I understand."
Carlisle stared at her. Her eyes being so angry, but her deemeanor weak and full of sadness. Even if he could not feel others emotions, he could feel the one's coming from her. He nodded his head before answering her.
"Of course we will witness for you. You saved our lives, we owe you your own." He looked to his own family, taking his hand from Edwards shoulder and walking over to the rest of his family. Taking a stance before them all.
"Everyone will witness for Nickole when the Voltouri arrive. There will be no argument on it." He rest of his family stared at him as his eyes lingered on them, taking an especially long time on Rosalie. She looked back to Carlisle, nodding her head in agrement.
"We will escourt you back to the house, and then get ready for them to arrive. I'm sorry I had to involve the Voltouri in this, but we tried to follow it by the law and turn him over without all this, but he wasn't going to let us it seems. Jessie, Lestat can you run around the outskirts of the forest with myself. Then ride with Mahuret."
They nodded to her, following her directions as they ran towards the forest. Making rounds around the forest for any scent of Murtagh and Lacey. Her eyes then fell on Mahuret, speaking in her mind to her this time.
'They are going to be following us, you know this. I need you to stay as calm as you can, I will keep your thoughts clear from Edward, but if you tense up he will know something is wrong. Lead the Cullen's through the forest, and take the lead back to their house. I will follow.'
Mahuret nodded in response as Nickole took off into the forest, the wind picking up behind her. Leaves rustling around the forest floor. Her body picking up the movements as she watched the Cullen's run for their cars. She jumped from tree top to tree top, listening for miles around. She could hear nothing but the sounds of her family and the Cullen's. As they made their way to the cars, she waited in the forest tree tops. Watching from afar. She could feel Edward turn to look in her direction as he was pulled into Carlisle's car. They drove away, Mahuret leading the way in her own car. She followed alongside the Cullen's going from tree top to tree top. Her nose began picking up light whiffs of Murtagh and Lacey, as they began getting closer. Defensivly she jumped ontop of Mahuret's car. With Carlisle's car being right behind it. Esme eyed her curiously, not knowing why she would do that.
"What's wrong Edward? Can you pick up any thoughts inside of her?" Carlisle asked quickly, wondering if they were in any danger. Edward tried to pick up some of his thoughts, hearing something about Murtagh, he let out a low growl in his throat.
"Murtagh is near, she can smell him. She's just being safe, and it's safer to take in the lead as to be able to watch over us."
"She is very brave." Esme spoke lightly. Edward let out a little chuckle, as Esme turned and looked at him curiously.
"What's so funny?"
"She heard you say how brave she is, and she told me that she's scared of spiders. She said it was kind of ironic. She can kill something that is stronger than a bomb, but if a spider even comes near her she jumps up to the ceiling like a scared cat." He couldn't help but chuckle again, Esme smiling and trying to not laugh as well. As the cars pulled into the drive, pebbles breaking under the tires as they drove down the gravel drive. The Cullen's cars pulled into the garage, while Mahuret parked the car she drove in front of the house. Nickole jumped down from the roof, her eyes now relaxing again into her normal blue color. She placed a hand to the side of Lestat's face, running her thumb over his cheek.
"Are you okay? I asked a lot of you today, is there anything you need?" He smiled, shaking his head. Jessie slipped her hand into his own, squeezing gently. He turned looking to her, giving her a squeeze back. Carlisle stood holding the door open, as they made their way inside. He closed it gently behind them, moving towards the living room. The rest of the Cullen's sat throughout the living room, waiting for the Voltouri to arrive. Edward stood across the room from Nickole, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He eyed her curiously, not sure what to make of everything that had happened in such a short amount of time. Rosalie stood up, heading up the stairs quickly to her bedroom, and coming back downstairs with a clean white sweater. She handed it to Nickole, as all eyes watched her.
"You're covered in blood, and I am sure that they will not take kindly to it. You can have this, I don't really wear it anyway. Emmett got it for me, and he does not know my own taste too well." She smiled to Nickole, giving a dagger filled glance to the rest of her family who watched her. They acted as if she couldn't possibly be nice. She gave a roll of her eyes to them, looking back to Nickole. She had tilted her head a bit, surprised as well. Yet she was never one to be rude when offered something, she quickly took off her own blood covered sweater, and pulled the white one on. It was gorgeous and soft, Casmier she would guess. Rosalie smiled, liking how it looked on her.
"Thank you Rosalie, it's beautiful."
"You're welcome." She turned, taking her seat back with Emmett again. Edward couldn't stop staring at her, she looked so beautiful. Yet she always was, how could she not. Nickole looked straight back at Edward, quirking a brow at him.
'See something you like?'
'When don't i?'
Edward's mouth broke out in a smirk at her. She smiled, looking back at him. The sound of tires screetching to a hault and pulling down the driveway, pulled everyone's thoughts to the window. All eyes staring forward. If she could breathe, her breath would have caught in her throat by now. The tense air that filled the air was thick. Carlisle moved to the door, as he heard doors closing and steps being climbed. He opened the door to be met with the Voltouri gaurd pouring inside his home, cloaks hanging all around their bodies. They scattered throughout the Cullen's home, looking for any hidden danger so they could protect their leaders. Aro, Jane, Caius, and Alec following. Their body gaurds moving about around them, Chelsea, Demetri, and Felix taking defensive stances. They eyed the Cullen's curiously, then their eyes falling upon Nickole. The smell of Marcus's blood was evident all over herself.
"What is the meaning here? You told us that Marcus was going to kill the Cullen's, and here they are alive and Marcus is dead. You should know what the law is, your life is forfeit." Caius spoke Hastily. He looked to Felix and Demetri, nodding his head. They imediatly went after Nickole, going to capture her. Edward growled, moving quicker then themselves. He crouched himself in front of Nickole, ready to kill for her. Felix smirked, a fight was all he lived for. Emmett had jumped up from his seat now, taking a defensive crouch beside his brother.
"Carlisle what is the meaning of all this? Take control of your family." Aro spoke now, and yet his tone was light. Carlisle moved toward Aro.
"Nickole only killed Marcus in order to save our lives. We all are here to witness for her, and for her family that is here. Please touch any of us and see for yourself." He placed his hands outstreatched towards Aro. Aro took his hand in his own, letting it all replay in his own mind. After a moment he released Carlisle from his touch, looking to Nickole.
"Interesting. Felix, Demetri there will be no need for your services today." They lifted themselves from their stances, Felix scowled at the fact that he had to stop. He wanted so much to fight with the bigger Cullen, seeing the challenge in him. As they backed out from their stances, the Cullen's did so. Yet Edward still stood in front of Nickole, placing his arms in front of himself. Aro eyed him curiously, seeing the need to protect her.
"Edward I have to say, you are quite interesting. First you are with the human Bella, and you defended her the same way you are defending our Nickole. Very, very interesting. I wish to read yourself Edward, and then yourself Nickole." Edward was still unsure to leave her side, but was reasured when Nickole placed her hand to his arm.
"I will be alright, there are others here, they won't kill me. They won't get the chance." Edward nodded, coming to stand in front of Aro. He placed his hands out to him, letting him take them and replay everything that had happened. From the day Nickole and her family had arrived, to here they stood now. He laughed lightly at the times where they were in their clearing, Edward
didn't want him to see that far into their privacy but couldn't keep it from him. Nickole however cut off any details into their moment. After Edward released his grip from Aro. Aro turned his eyes onto Nickole, smirking.
"You always were quite extrodinary. Now you, and then we shall discuss all this new information." She nodded, coming towards Aro. She placed her hands in his own, letting her memories take him back to as far as she could remember. Playing out how she had met Edward when he was human, and to the lies Marcus had fed into herself. How she had turned part of her family into vegetarian's, while the rest remainder human drinkers. When they released their hands, Aro looked to rest of the Voltouri.
"We have all been decieved by Marcus it seems. He had his own agenda all along. We should have entrusted your life with Gabriel, he was right all along. We are sorry for leaving you with him, yet I have to say you are quite remarkable." Aro placed a hand to the side of Nickole's face, looking deeply within her deep blue eyes.
"You have developed your powers without the proper teachings, you developed them all on your own, and have aquired new one's that we had no idea you possessed. Your control is amazing, to have created all these vampires without any trouble, simply amazing. And they all come from your strong blood line, we shall not hurt any of them, unless you wish of it." Demetri smirked hearing the last spoken word from Aro. Nickole looked to her family behind her, smiling to them all. She then looked back to Aro.
"I have no need to hurt them, they have saved me just as much as I have them. Yet there are two members of my family who might create a problem in the human world, they have no control and create destruction. Marcus picked them out personally himself and asked me to create them. I should have said no, but I didn't. I am sorry, I will take the blame for it myself." Aro shook his head at her, smiling like a little boy.
"Ah no need my dear. If they seem to cause a stir in the human world then I shall have them taken out myself. You have done good, trust me."
"Thank you Aro." She knelt down on the floor before him, her hands still in his own. He smirked, always loving the praise he recieved. Jane gave a roll of her eyes.
"You are welcome my dear. Considering how amazing you are my dear, I would like to offer you a position with us, and not in the gaurd my dear. You may have a seat by my side, if you would like." He placed his hand ontop of her head, rubbing her hair back a little. She shot her glance up from the floor, looking straight into his eyes. They all looked to Aro, the Cullen's, and the Volturi.
"Aro what are you doing? We do not offer that, ever. Do you know what you offer?" Caius raised a brow at Aro. He understood how amazing a fighter would be, but an elder like themselves he questioned.
"Yes I do. We wanted her created to protect the original blood line, and she has. Her powers are amazing, more than we could ever imagine. She is very protective of her family, and would make a perfect elder. I stand by my offer." Nickole stood up slowly, looking around the room of the many faces around her. She had never been propostioned with such an offer before. Yet she would have to leave Edward, and the rest of the Cullen's. The Cullen's who she had grown to love, how could she leave all of them. She let out an unneeded sigh, looking back to Aro. She took her hands from him softly, letting them rest at her sides. She slowly turned walking over to Edward, taking his own hands in hers.
"I would make a good elder because I lead with my heart, and my head. Which is why you offer, this, correct?" She turned looking back to Aro as she spoke. He slowly nodded his head, the smile never leaving his face.
"I am where I am needed, I am where I belong. With Edward. So thank you Aro for this, but I have to turn it down. My heart and my head tell me to stay here."
"We honor your decision. Yet do you have anything you want before we leave? We still owe you for what we have put you through."
"..Yes actually..I have no memory of when I was made, but when I was unconscience my mind replayed something. You saw it when you read my thoughts. So what I ask is...it true? Is that how I was made, and why then?" She hesitated a bit as she spoke, not sure if she would this request from them. Aro looked to Caius, letting him explain this to her. Caius took a step forward, looking to Jane who held her arms crossed in front of her chest. His red eyes turned to fall upon Nickole.
"When we entered this world, our maker was destroyed, leaving only a few of the original vampires in this world. Marcus being one of them, and his brother being the one who bit Carlisle. It took Marcus quite a long time to learn self control in order to be ready to create another, someone to carry on the bloodline. The older vampires were very selfish, and took what they wanted when they wanted. They cared nothing to keep the secret, which is why there are none left. We had to take care of it, so to speak."
Caius looked to Felix who had been cracking his knuckles at the time, making it sound like boulders were falling down a cliff. Felix smirked, letting his arms fall upon his chest again.
"When Marcus felt ready, we went looking for someone who would be gifted enough to carry it on, someone who could create more. We came to your village a long time ago, we were drawn to the power you carry inside of you. Although there were a few objections, we stole you in the night and brought you to the forest. He bit you, and we stayed there for three days until the venom burned throughout your body. Gabriel gaurded over you day and night, he wouldn't leave your side. He did not like the idea of taking away your freedom without your own will, but he could not disobey an order. When you came into your new body, we were mezmerized, we left you to Marcus, and ordered him to take care of you. Obviously he didn't care to, if we had known this, we would have left you to Gabriel's care. That was not one of our best judgments."
Caius growled a little towards the end, having his own judgment being wrong. He had never been wrong before. Nickole looked down to the floor, closing her eyes as she remembered another part of her memories.
"And what about my family...I had a husband...and a daughter." She couldn't dare to open her eyes, scared that she would cry.
"You went to your house, and tried to kill him. But you stopped yourself, which is remarkable. After Marcus left with you, Gabriel came back to clean up the mess. Your husband was turning, and he offered to kill him or let him change. He took the change, and is now living in Italy. He
understands why he can not see you, why we kept you from him. Your daughter is fine as well, she lived a long life, and had children. As you know, you did create your grandson." Caius looked to Lestat, smirking lightly. He had never smirked, so this was a bit new to himself. Lestat looked to Nickole, smiling to her.
"Mother always talked about you. She said you were our gaurdian angel. You were, you saved me from death, and I have never been happier." Nickole opened her eyes, looking to Lestat and smiling.
"Thank you. Even though you are my grandson, you are a son more. I couldn't have asked for anyone better to enter my life." She smiled, Edward squeezed her hand. He stood behind her, and was behind her forever.
"Thank you so much, even though you made me without my will. I am greatful for it. It gave me time to meet my angel." She turned looking back to Edward, smiling. He in turn looked to them, smiling as well. He brought his arms around Nickole, bringing her into a tight embrace.
"Yes thank you. You made me the most perfect woman in the world, I could not ask for more in her." Caius nodded to him, turning and heading for the door.
"Good luck to you all, we will not bother you again. Come, let us leave. I am begining to hunger." He headed out the door, Jane following right behind him. Aro gave a small wave of the hand and left as well. Their body gaurds following. As the house emptied out, the Cullen's looked around. Not sure how to move on with their lives.
"We should go now, we have a lot to discuss." Mahuret looked to Nickole. Nickole in turn nodded, understanding the truth in what she said. She smiled, feeling Edward tighten his embrace around her. She slid around in his arms, coming to face him.
"I have to go for now my love, but I will see you tomorrow at school. Bright and early."
Edward smiled, tightly embracing her to himself. He laid his face in her hair, taking in her heavenly scent. He they embraced eachother, she couldn't help but lay her face into his chest, taking in a deep scent of him herself. Edward leaned his face down, kissing her fully on the lips. She slowly pulled herself away from her angel, not wanting to get taken away in the moment with him. As she broke her embrace from him, she looked to Carlisle and the rest of the Cullen's.
"Thank you so much for everything you have done for my family and I. I can't thank you enough." Carlisle nodded, smiling warm and kind to her.
"You are very welcome my dear. If you ever need anything, please do not be afraid to ask. You are family to us all." Nickole nodded, turning on her heels and heading out the door. Her family following closely behind her. Nickole let Mahuret drive them all back to their house, preparing themselves for the disaster that Murtagh and Lacey would have left in their disapearence.
"Where is Alice?" Jasper looked to the empty spot where Alice used to preocupy. Edward looked to the spot where Alice had been, she must have left when Nickole had left. Edward listened, finding Alice searching for something in his bedroom. He quirked a curious brow, wondering what she could possibly need in there.
"What are you looking for Alice?"
Edward spoke lightly, knowing she would hear him. Without another word, Alice slid down the banister. Jumping off when she reached the end, she bounced over in front of Edward. A huge smile played upon her face, as she held out a small blue velvet box out to him. He eyed it curiously, wondering what it had to do with himself. Alice rolled her eyes at Edward, opening the box to reveal a beautiful silver band, with a large sasphire gem in the middle and two clusters of diamonds on either side of the gem. Rosalie gasped at the beauty of it, it was quite a site. Edward took the open box, looking at the ring that laid before him. Alice bounded away from Edward, singing to herself as she went.
"I'm getting married in the morning, ding dong the bells are gunna chimmeee..."
Edward smirked, knowing what she meant. He shut the box quickly, running up the stairs to his bedroom. If he was going to do this, he was going to be dressed nice at least for her.