Chapter 11

A/N: I don't own Twilight only my OC's…I know it's been forever since I last updated but I had some serious writers block and life was just getting too hectic. I've finally figured out what I'm doing with this story. I hope you guys like this chapter. I'm not sure this chapter is my best but it has a purpose. Please review and let me know what you think. I'll stop rambling now.


SamPOV:

I have spent the last three days watching Sofia and Delilah researching every book about magic and witchcraft the two could get their hands on. Even Carlisle was lending a hand with his vampire speed reading to help try and figure out what exactly Melchior intended to do with Olivia and the other young girls. Sofia has become a woman possessed as she tries to protect her little girl. She has even called in some reinforcements.

Two more witches would be arriving at the Cullen's old mansion today. It seems the old house is the witches' new work place. The large dining room has become the center for all witchy activity. I have never seen so many books, crystals, herbs and plants in my whole life. Sofia glances up at me from her large spell book and smiles softly before diving back into her research.

I stand and keep watch as is my job to make sure the witches are protected while everyone is on edge with the current situation with the missing girls. The pack and Cullens have been patrolling round the clock and Olivia is heavily guarded. Hopefully Sofia's friends could help bring us closer to destroying this bastard that has taken up residence in Forks.

"Aye Dios! I know what he wants to do with the girls and Olivia." Delilah's voice brings me from my thoughts as she hands Sofia a large book about Mayan history. Sofia's honey eyes widen as she reads what Delilah has discovered.

"The burden of the sun and the moon…of course I should have known. Any vampire would want to break this spell." I'm confused as Sofia flips through another book before comparing her find with Delilah's.

"What is the burden of the sun and the moon?" Carlisle asks the question that is on my mind as well. Sofia sighs softly and licks her pouty lips before answering the question.

"Centuries ago a powerful Mayan village was divided between those that worshiped the sun and those that worshiped the moon. The warriors of each of the tribes would fight viciously against each other, both taking great pleasure in the blood and flesh that was spilled and torn during these horrendous battles." Sofia looks to Carlisle and I before continuing her story. We listen carefully to each word she says.

"During one particular battle innocent blood was spilled. The rest of the villagers were outraged and demanded the gods to destroy them. The original witch chose to avenge the death of the innocents herself by punishing the warriors for their crimes." Sofia hands a book to Carlisle which shows a picture of ancient hieroglyphics carved in stone.

"A witch's purpose is to keep the balance in nature and the world. For every action there is a consequence that keeps the balance. The original witch took it upon herself to curse the sun and moon worshipers. Her anger is what created what you are today." Sofia watches as Carlisle listens with a look of wonder on his face.

"She turned them into monsters, Cold ones that drank blood and were slaves to the sun, always having to keep to the shadows and the night, losing the right to worship and bask in the warmth of their precious sun. As well as hot bloodied monsters who eat flesh and became servants to the moon. Condemned to lose their freedom and be controlled by the full moon they worshiped and forever mortal enemies of each other." Sofia bites her plump lip as Carlisle stares at the book that seems to hold all the answers he has ever had about his origins.

"How did Nathifa come about?" Carlisle's confusion is evident in his golden eyes.

"These monsters were not immortal. The sun could easily burn them to death as well as a stake of wood through the heart. The wolves could be hunted just like any other animal. But another witch, one that used dark magic wanted to control these monsters. She wanted them to do her bidding so that she could control the human race but she needed to make them stronger. Make them immortal." Sofia pauses for a moment and brushes her honey colored curls behind her shoulders.

"When there were but a few of these monsters left the dark witch took each of their venom and mixed it together but she was discovered by the original witch before she could complete her spell. So the dark witch fled across the ocean to a land of sun and sand. There she hid the venom deep in the depths of the tomb of the god of the afterlife, Anubis. It was there that she taught her dark magic to a select few. It would be many years after that when an old dark witch would send a young princess to her doom by using the venom to turn her into the first real immortal vampire." Sofia and Delilah look to each other as Carlisle processes what he just heard.

"But why would Melchior want to break the curse?" I ask and watch as Delilah flips through another large tome. She points to a passage and shows me and Carlisle as she explains the purpose of breaking the curse.

"Vampires can't go out in direct sunlight. This limits them to staying in the shadows and night time. If the burden of the sun and moon was broken by vampires they would gain freedom to walk in the direct sun and werewolves would be forced into their wolf forms for all of eternity never able to change back. But if werewolves were to break the curse they could shift at will and force the vampires back into the darkness. The sun would burn every vampire. Not even the overcast skies could protect them." Delilah stands as she grabs another cup of coffee.

I walk over to Sofia and wrap my long arms around her and she relaxes into my embrace. "How do Olivia and the girls fit into his plan?" I ask as Sofia leans her back against my chest. Delilah smirks playfully at us then grabs yet another spell book and quickly finds what she needs.

"Melchior needs the blood of seven innocents. That's why he needs the girls. Olivia is the conduit for the spell. She's a direct decedent of the original witch. The magic in her blood is very powerful. If he has the fire opal and the blood of the girls, he'll be able to break the curse on the next full moon when the moon is at its highest." Delilah purses her lips making the piercings in her cheeks stand out even more.

"He has to have a dark witch helping him. He can't do the spell without one. If we knew who it was we could bind their magic." Sofia nods and snuggles further into my arms.

"How will this effect Olivia?" Carlisle asks while skimming through the Mayan history book.

Sofia stiffens for a moment before answering Carlisle's question. "Once he forces her power to awaken he has to drink every last drop of her blood, but only if the awakening doesn't kill her first. A witch has to grow into her powers. Forcing it would kill a witch or worse turn them completely to the dark magic."

The room goes quite as Sofia tries not to cry. I try to comfort her as best as I can. I know what losing a child feels like and I would never want that for Sofia. I silently vow that I will do everything in my power to keep them both safe. Sofia recovers and gets back to work with Delilah and Carlisle while I hang around.

The morning passes quickly as Sofia and Delilah work on trying to figure out how to keep Melchior from completing his plan. As noon approaches Slate, one of the younger wolves comes by the mansion to help with protection duty. I talk with him in the living room as Esme begins to cook for the pack that will be arriving soon for another family/pack meeting.

Slate and I are interrupted when Alice comes dancing through the front door with two women I haven't seen before. The first one is pale, tall and willowy with a short platinum blonde pixie cut and startling blue eyes. Her eyes and lips seem too large for her face and her nose is small making her look more like an adorable woodland fairy than a powerful witch.

The other witch is tiny like Alice, barely 4'9" if I had to guess. Her skin is a smooth mocha, a stark contrast to her alabaster friend standing next to her. The tiny witch is quite pretty with long glossy black curls that fall down to her waist and shiny emerald eyes. Her features are delicate for her small heart shaped face.

Sofia rushes into the room and straight into the arms of the other two witches. I can't help but to smile as I watch her animatedly talk and giggle with her friends. Alice passes by me with a wide smile before heading to the kitchen to help Esme.

"Sam I want you to meet my friends Arianna and Iris."I stand and shake both of their hands. Iris the tall blonde smiles warmly at me and Arianna the tiny brunette watches me with serious emerald eyes. Arianna glances behind me and immediately I hear the increase of a certain wolf's heartbeat. I turn to look behind me and see a shocked Slate staring wide eyed at the tiny witch.

Arianna stares back at him with mild interest. I can tell she has no idea what's going on but she seems hardly affected by what just happened. Before long she'll feel the affects of the imprint. It's nearly impossible not to feel the pull to your soul mate.

Slate's silvery grey eyes blink slowly as realization dawns on him at what just happened. He's fighting it. I can tell by the way his jaw clenches and fists tighten. Slate's never been lucky in love. He's always been the guy you have an affair with but never settle down with. It's no secret that he has been in love with Paul's daughter Calla for years and it nearly broke him when my brother Noah imprinted on her.

Slate was the male version of Leah and now he finally got his imprint but something tells me this was going to be a difficult one. Slate's been jaded by his heartbreak and imprinting has been nothing but a curse for him, stealing away the woman he loved most in this world.

"Is he ok?" Arianna asks me while looking between Slate and me. I really can't say anything as it is his duty to be the one to explain the imprint. Sofia looks at me and all I can do is shrug my shoulders before excusing myself and dragging with me a still shocked Slate.

I can't believe that after thirty years I'm still dealing with imprinting wolves. I toss him down on the back porch lounge chair and try to figure out what to do with him. Back in my day imprinting was easy but now these young pups make things more complicated. No matter how hard they try to fight it, in the end the imprint always wins.

I know from experience what trying to fight it does and that fight with Emily still haunts me. Leah's broken heart tore at me as well but in the end things worked out for the best.

"I don't want this Sam. I don't even know her. All the love I have is always going to be for Calla." Slate's deep baritone is agitated as he speaks. Everyone told him not to pursue Calla since she wasn't his imprint. No good would come from it but he didn't listen and when she broke things off with him he was hurt. A few weeks later Noah imprinted on Calla and that was the final blow for Slate. He's never been quite the same.

"Calla is imprinted Slate. She's never going to be yours again. You have to let her go." I say this not wanting to hurt him but wanting to help him move on. I know the pain that Leah, Emily and I went through with the imprint and I don't wish that on anyone else.

Slate stands quickly and I can see the tears shining in his silver eyes. He reminds me of one of those characters from a 1950's angsty teen movie. His black leather jacket, white t-shirt, jeans and boots adds to his James Dean persona.

"How can I let her go when her love has scared me so deeply? Calla is tattooed on my soul. How am I supposed to move on from that?" He pleads with me as if I have all the answers. I do the only thing I can think of. I call Leah.

A/N: Please Review. Next up the witches get closer to discovering what to do to help the pack. Melchior makes his move and Olivia's life hangs in the balance.