CHAPTER 9

BPOV

I was worried. Would the Cullens get along with the boys and vice versa? I didn't want any of us destroying the other. From what I could tell, these vampires were good people. Yes I may not be familiar with many vampires, but something told me that this family was above all the rest. I ran a hand through my hair and searched through the Book of Damnation. I was sure there was something about vampires in here if they were as damned as Edward believed they were. I found a small segment, but of course it said that the undead were myths that people told those who had sinned, making them think they would walk the Earth for eternity without light. It was quite depressing and frustrating, so after a few minutes I slammed it shut and slid it aside.

There were so many things running through my mind, leaving me scattered brain. I hoped the Cullens knew something in regards to the murders. Although I am a witch, the thought of something out there killing innocent people terrified me. Who would be next?

I glanced at my clock beside my bed. It was five minutes before the Cullens were supposed to arrive. I sighed and left my room. I could hear the boys talking downstairs in the main room, but I didn't listen. I knew they were all having mixed feelings about this meeting. Reid was still pissed that everyone was always warning him not to expose us and yet I'm the one who actually did. Tyler was very relaxed about the whole ordeal if not a little worried about what exactly could the Cullens share in common with us. Pogue was tense, preparing for a fight that I hoped would never happen. Caleb was intrigued, he wanted to know more about the Cullens, but he too was a little guarded.

As I was descending the stairs the doorbell rang, and I almost jumped straight out of my skin. I glanced to the front room which I was now standing right in front of. The boys looked from me to the door and I rolled my eyes as I went to answer it. Behind the door was Dr. Carlisle Cullen whose face was lit with a friendly smile. "Hello, Isabella." He extended a hand which I shook.

"Good evening, Dr. Cullen."

He chuckled. "Please, it's just Carlisle."

"Well, then it's just Bella for me." He laughed and nodded before stepping aside to reveal a beautiful woman with a heart shaped face and caramel colored hair. Her face was kind and lit with a warm smile.

"This is my wife, Esme," Carlisle introduced.

I extended my hand and smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Cullen." She surprised me by pulling me into a gentle embrace. I hugged her back. It had been so long since I had had a motherly embrace such as this one.

"Please, dear. Call me Esme."

I agreed before ushering them to come in. The rest of the Cullen's, who I hadn't even noticed, filed in behind them. I watched as their golden eyes all surveyed the house. "This is a nice place you have here, Bella," Emmett complimented. I laughed lightly and thanked him as Edward came over and wrapped an arm around my waist.

"Yes, dear. Very beautiful model," Esme agreed with her son. Her eyes showed joy when she looked over at me and Edward.

"Thank you. This house is quite old, but I think we've managed." I pulled away from Edward after a swift peck on the cheek before leading them all into the front room. Caleb stood when we entered and made his way over to Carlisle.

"Hello, sir. I'm Caleb Danvers. Isabella's older brother," he introduced, extending a firm hand out to the doctor. Carlisle smiled and grasped my brother's hand in greeting. I almost laughed when Caleb jumped at how cold the eldest Cullen's hands were.

"It's a pleasure, son. On the behalf of my family and I, we would like to thank you for bringing us into your home."

Caleb nodded. "No problem. It's good to have you." He turned to our four other brother's and made the introductions before we all sat down. I thought it would be wise if I sat next to Caleb since this was a meeting and not a social gathering. Edward's eyes remained on me the whole time and I caught myself smiling to him here and there.

Carlisle, who was sitting directly in front of us, decided to start the conversation first. "I assume Bella has told you what we are?"

My brother's all flashed their eyes to me in an almost accusing matter. I shook my head sheepishly. "I didn't think they would believe me if they didn't see it for themselves."

"Ah, that does make sense. I must say we were a little hesitant to believe what you were as well," he informed.

"You told ALL of them?!" Reid yelled.

"No," I answered, looking to Edward now with narrow eyes.

"They already knew. Alice was in that alley with me and all of the family had heard the stories before we moved," Edward said, almost pleadingly. I sighed.

"Wait, what alley?" Caleb asked, shooting a dangerous glare from me to Edward. Now it was my time to narrow my eyes and point the finger.

"The alley that night at Nicky's. You and Reid had your little hissy fit. Edward and Alice were there. They saw everything," I answered with a hint of venom.

"Everything?" Caleb questioned with wide eyes.

Alice nodded. "Everything."

"Shit," Reid hissed. I shot him a disapproving look.

"So who was it that said this was MY entire fault?" I asked playfully, putting my finger to my chin as if I was in exaggerated thinking mode.

Reid glared at me. "Don't rub it in."

Caleb put an arm around my shoulder. "I think you owe Bells an apology."

Reid glared at him and me before mumbling an apology. I smiled. "Apology accepted."

The Cullens looked amused as they glanced at our little interaction. "So you know what we are?" Caleb asked hesitantly.

Carlisle nodded. "Yes. But we are ill informed about what your powers consist of."

My brothers and I shared glances, not sure if we should share such confidential pieces of information. I mean they already had a major piece already. "I've shared my gifts with Edward. I'm sure he's told you that." Now the Cullen's glanced at the bronze-haired god accusingly.

"No, he hasn't," Rosalie sneered. It was amazing how someone so beautiful could make a simple action look horrendously ugly.

"I felt I had shared enough," Edward informed with a small shrug.

Caleb stood and turned to the furnace where the fire was burning bright. "You know the stories. So I won't repeat them. My brethren and I started showing signs of our "powers" when we were thirteen. Our parents were wary. They hoped it was a fluke. But as time progressed, so did the level of our abilities. About a year and a half later, my little sister started showing signs. No one could believe it. Females were never born with powers in our family, but then again none of our families had daughters. Our mother came from an extinct family that had settled in the colony. She was an orphan until she was taken in by Richard Parry, Pogue's grandfather, who had little power." He turned back to stare at all of us, mostly the Cullens. He was gauging their reactions before he continued. The vampires seemed generally interested in the story of why my brothers and I were all here. Our history.

"When our mother turned twelve, she started showing signs of magic. No one knows how really since she had no information regarding her parents gifts. She was confused and was left thinking she was a freak because she was the only one her age to possess such powers. That is until Richard's son, Grayson, along with Calvin Sims and Ian Garwin started showing as well. Two more families soon joined after."

"Two more families?" Alice asked, bewildered. "We thought there were only four."

Caleb turned back to the fire. "We've been reduced down to our current size. My mom, her cousin, and her friends met up with Charlie Danvers and John Pope. John Pope was killed as punishment for using witchcraft. No one truly knows how the Power came to be, but the Covenant has been around for three hundred years. But every time, those who master it are always hunted."

"You said that Charlie Danvers was another part of the coven?" Carlisle asked. Caleb nodded and looked to me as if asking me to tell the story. "So your father has powers too?"

I decided to take it from here. "My father started showing early. He was only ten when he got his first gift. He could move things. One afternoon, our grandmother, Marie, had restricted him from going outside that day. He took it out on her without even knowing what he had done. She was toppling down the stairs before they knew it. She ended up in a coma. William, our grandfather, decided to do something about Charlie's powers. He made him will him his power." I hadn't noticed that I had been fingering the necklace I wore around my neck while telling my father's story.

"Will?" Emmett questioned. I nodded.

"A person can will another their power as long as that person is already a supernaturally inclined themselves," Caleb answered.

"What happened to your grandfather after that?" Esme asked. Her voice held concern.

"The power became overwhelming. He used everyday and there was only so much his body could take," I continued. "He was aging everyday until one day…he withered away."

The Cullens looked shocked and horrified at the news. "So you can only use your gifts at a limited amount?" Carlisle questioned. I nodded.

"The more and more we use, especially when our power is great, the less energy our bodies can hold. You'll have the body of a fifty year old even when you're only in your twenties," Caleb informed.

"It drains you," Edward muttered thoughtfully, a frown on his glorious face. We all nodded.

"So what happened after that?" Jasper asked.

"Well our families had already formed a covenant of silence, vowing to never expose ourselves for what we truly were. Our powers have technically been around for a good hundred years. Yet, each generation is so remarkably different. We progress until our powers become as natural as breathing. After John's death, everyone agreed to never use again. Our mother and father along with Pogue's, Tyler's, and Reid's, all formed the last covenant… until now," I finished quietly.

"But you have all broken that now," Rosalie commented. It wasn't rude, but more of a fact. I shook my head no.

"It was broken before we all neared ascension," Caleb informed sadly.

"Ascension?" Jasper asked.

"Yes. When we turn eighteen, our powers increase," I answered, shooting my older brother a look. "Caleb's turning eighteen at the end of next week." I giggled softly as he glared at me.

"Ooh! A party!" Alice exclaimed, bouncing up and down in her seat. Caleb looked horrified and Jasper was trying desperately to simmer her down.

"You said it was broken before?" Edward asked when his sister had calmed down. "Before what?"

"A few years ago. When our mother used too much, her heart failed. It took her life," I replied, whispering the last part because it was all still too painful to hear. The Cullen's all held sympathy in their sad gazes.

Caleb cleared his throat. "So… you said that you had a secret of your own?"

A/N:I know it took me almost 3 days to update and I'm sorry!!! Like I said, I've been sick. And my health seems to be in poor shape lately...but I am still trying my damn hardest to continue this for you guys before I start classes at the end of this month. This chapter was extremely difficult for me for some reason. Having to tell the Covenants background history is difficult and I pretty much made it up right on the spot! I'm still not comfortable with it which explains the extra day delay. I was trying to come up with something better...but I still failed!!!

Anyways, next chapter the Covenant boys find out what's so special about these Cullens. I won't go deep into the Cullen history since you guys all know it haha.

Thank you for being so patient and sticking with me!!! Please review and let me know how to improve this story!