Victoria
I closed my eyes as my mate rested on my chest. The sun shone down through the trees and warmed our cool flesh. The ground beneath us pillowed our bodies. We were reluctant to leave the comfort of the beautiful forest. We both relished in this brief moment of alone time together.
Ashtan shifted slightly as I slipped my fingers into her thick mane of hair. She sighed in relief and tightened her arms around me. I was grateful for it. Her arms are the only place that I feel at home. No matter where we are.
"Sing me a song," I whispered. She smiled softly. I may be a grown woman now but I am still so much like a child.
"I gave my love a cherry that has no stone. I gave my love a chicken that has no bone. I gave my love a ring that has no end. I gave my love a baby with no cryen," she sang quietly as massaged her scalp. I looked down at her and gave her an odd look.
"I've heard this song before." She shushed me and gently pushed me back to the ground.
"How can there be a cherry that has no stone? How can there be a chicken that has no bone? How can there be a ring that has no end? How can there be a baby with no cryen?"
I closed my eyes and hummed along with her. Memories of my childhood came to mind. Those were different times. Before I became infatuated with that scum, Johnathan, I was so happy. I find myself missing my family more. Especially being around the Cullens.
"A cherry, when it's blooming, it has no stone. A chicken when it's pipping, it has no bone. A ring when it's rolling, it has no end. A baby when it's sleeping, has no cryen," my mother sang quietly, holding me tightly.
I took deep, heaving breaths. Her voice was like an angel. It always calmed me down when the attacks came.
"Where did you learn that song, mum?"
"My mother sang it to me when I was a little girl just like you," she said softly, combing her fingers through my hair. "I had the same sickness too."
"Truly," I asked, bewildered. I felt so alone in my pain. I could barely breath half the time. My little lungs were filled with fluid. "I won't be ill forever?"
Mother shook her head and smiled at me lovingly. I sighed as her fingers continued to massage my scalp. The rise and fall of her chest somehow helped me to breathe easier.
"Of course not, my love. You grow strong. Soon you will be woman and you'll have no need for my songs. You'll have your own children to sing them to."
"I'll always want to hear your songs," I said tiredly. My mother hummed and kissed my forehead gently.
"Then I will always be here to sing them."
"Are you okay," Ashtan asked, raising her brows at me. She was straddling me with her arms crossed over her chest.
"I'm fine. I was just.."
"Daydreaming? What were you thinking about," she asked. I sighed heavily and grabbbed her waist.
"My mother. The song just brought back memories that I thought I forgot about. I just..I miss my family."
The look on my mate's face spoke volumes. She kissed my cheek and hugged me gently. She knew that even though I am wild and free, I have moments where I get lost in my head.
"I'm sorry, love," she murmured. Her eyes became didstant. "I miss my family all the time. Sometimes it's my slave family..sometimes it's Hetap. Other times, I see my first mother smiling at me in my memories."
I sat up held her close to comfort her. She looked haunted by the eons of memories flashing through her brain. I did the only thing I could do when this happened. I remained silent and just let her feel that I was here.
"I know how you feel...I won't keep you from traveling to see her. I just want you to be happy, V," she said adamantly. My lips pulled into a genuine smile and I kissed her passionately.
"Thank you, love. When do you want to leave? London is pretty lively this time of year."
"I'm not going. I think it's time that you go out and travel without me. Your control is amazing," she said casually, that glazed over look was gone now. She gave me whiplash with the way she snapped back to reality.
I don't know how to feel about leaving Ashtan alone. I mean, I want her with me all the time. It is only right for me to want to have my mate where I know she is safe. But, the thought of traveling alone intrigued me. My wild mind latched onto images of myself running through deep forests, barefoot and feral.
"I know," she said, laughing at my lost expression. I blushed and shoved her off of me in annoyance. "Just don't get yourself killed. I'd go insane without somebody to annoy all day."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about me. I have my gift."
"Victoria Hastings, I'll never stop worrying about you. Even if you had every power in the world."
I kissed her softly, reveling in the feeling of her plump lips. I would miss her kisses but I would miss her presence the most. So commanding and calming at once. When I didn't know what to do there she was, ready to show me the way. She is much like my mother, I realize.
"What are you waiting for? Aren't you ready to go? It'll only take a week there and back," she laughed quietly. I slapped her arm harshly.
"I was going to get some lovin' before I left but never mind," I laughed, backing away from her. Her jaw dropped and she begged me to come back.
"Nope. It's whatever. I'll just pick up a human along the way."
"Make sure you finish them off. I don't want you getting sentimental and bringing home a childe. I'm not ready to be a momma again," she called. I rolled my eyes at her and kissed her one last time.
She grabbed my arm gently.
"In all seriousness, I'm proud of how well you've adjusted. Have fun but just..make it back to me in one piece please?"
"I will. I promise."
When she finally let me go, I took off into the woods without hesitation. The more we prolonged it the longer it would take for me to pull myself away.
A part of me wanted to turn around but I had to make sure my family was okay. And secretly, I wanted to show my mate that I was independent. That I am her equal in all things. I can handle myself.
Ashtan
The smell of La Push permeated my nose and I inhaled deeply. It wasn't much different than I remember it. Sea salt and the odd smell of sage still lingered here. Along with some carbon monoxide from all of the new technology.
I followed Joseph and his pack across the dark beach to a bonfire they had started in the sand. The eyes of the Quileute watched me closely, looking for any sign of hostility. I smiled at them as nonthreatening as I could and they still grimaced.
I guess they don't believe me.
Joseph guided me over to the elders and I bowed in respect. He looked slightly taken aback.
"This is Harry Clearwater, my brother Billy Black, and Quill Sr.," he said, before gesturing towards my seat. I sat down and braced myself for the worst.
"This leech is not Anuk Sukkahn. You've let her fool you into bringing her here," Quil grunted, glaring at me. I kept my composure as the people began to chatter.
"I am called Ashtan now but when I met your forefathers I was called Anuk Sukkahn. I assure you, I am not here to harm anyone."
I reached forward and placed my hands in the fire. The people gasped and exclaimed. It didn't hurt. In fact, it felt comforting. The heat made me close my eyes and smile. I pulled my hands out and the flames clung to them, dancing and swaying. The people looked at me like I was a goddess. The same as their ancestors before them.
"How is this possible," Billy whispered. He grabbed my hand and turned it around, finding no burns.
"I thought the same brother. This world is not limited to wolves and vampires," Joseph said softly.
"What are you," Harry asked. I sat back in my seat and sighed.
"I am many things. A woman first, a vampire second, but a Phoenix through and through. I'm a wine enthusiast. I'm a social activist and a lover of languages. Most importantly, i am the mate of the most wonderful woman I've ever laid eyes on," I said quietly, staring at the fire.
"So I ask that when you interact with people who are different than you, realize that they are more than what they seem. We good people need to stick together and fight those who would harm our families. It doesn't matter what our species is."
The pack looked ashamed of themselves. That wasn't what I intended but very well. Hopefully I could hel Carlisle and his family so that when I left I could leave his life better than I walked into it. Just as he had mine.
"I..apologize for my rudeness," Quil said begrudgingly. He stuck out his wrinkled hand and I shook it firmly, smiling.
"Now that we see that you are who you say you are, would you tell us about your time with our ancestors," Harry asked. The man looked like he was vibrating with excitement.
"Of course. Where do I start.."
The wet sand squished beneath my toes as I made my way out of the ocean. I squeezed the water out of my hair and cursed. I was hungry, cold, and soaking wet. My plans hadn't gone as well as I thought they would.
My rations weren't enough for five men plus me. Halfway through the trip, the bastards had eaten through most of it. To make matters worse, they thought I was their whore. They seemed to have forgotten how much I paid them to take me here.
I killed each of them in their sleep.
I trudged into the woods with two things in mind, food and water. I could smell fire cominh from just ahead and my stomach was eating itself. I kept forward confidently. I wasn't about die of starvation so whatever being made me could laugh at my incompetence.
I stopped just before walking into the settlement. The sound of twigs snapping froze me in place. I could hear the heavy breaths of a beast behind me. I cursed under my breath as it began to growl.
"Lets just calm down," I said, turning around slowly. My eyes bulged from their sockets.
"Oh my.."
The wolf was gargantuan. Black as night with eyes as large as my fist. I remained frozen in place, careful not to move an inch as it came forward. I gritted my teeth as it sniffed at my my neck. It's breath reeked.
"Alright! Alright! Im not here to hurt anybody," I said angrily. The wolf tilted it's head at me and I groaned. "I bet you don't even speak Svenska, do you?"
The wolf simply stared at me.
"Exactly as I thought. Hey!"
The wolf grabbed my arm in its mouth gently and tugged me toward the village. I fought against the beast at first but the smell of food and the sound of singing caught my attention. My stomach growled visciously.
The wolf finally dropped my arm when we made it to the fire. I stood in front of them rigidly as they stared at me. They talked to each other in their language and I listened to their diction to determine what they were saying. It was foreign to me but I was now determined to learn it.
"Friend," I said to them. I pointed to my chest and lifted up my hands palm forward. "I am a friend."
One of the women strode toward me. She shouted something at the other people. It sounded like she was scolding them. She pulled me over to the fire and sat me down unceremoniously.
"You are small. Eat," the woman said, gruffly. She pulled a piece of meat off a stick and shoved it into my hand.
I wasted no time in devouring it. The woman continued feeding me while the other's chatted around me. I paid them no attention. The meat was succulent. When she handed me a bowl of water, I nearly fainted.
"She is pale like the cold ones," one of the women said suspiciously.
"She eats, Yahni. She is not one of them."
"Are you certain?"
"I am. She is just a skinny pale woman. We must fatten her."
"We will have a choice. The girl is ravenous."
"Mmmm, gods. What is this? Chicken? It's so good," I moaned. The woman beside me laughed and shoved another piece into my hands."You're going to kill me with all of this food!"
Soon the men began to gather around the fire. I wondered where the large wolf went. I wondered why they didn't run screaming when the wolf walked into their village. Suddenly, I wasn't hungry anymore. I was confused.
I cleared my throat loudly to get their attention. "Can someone please teach me this language? I need to ask some questions."
They simply stared at me. The nice woman placed another piece of heavenly meat into my lap, silencing me again.
"Just wait. I'll get some answer after I eat this food," I muttered in annoyance.
For almost two weeks, I had remained with them. I watched the way they interacted with each other and gathered their language rather quickly. It wasn't as hard as I made it seem.
"The wolf that brought me here, where is he," I asked. Hira smiled at me and continued skinning the chicken.
"He is right there," she said. I followed her finger and my brows shot up. It was the chief of the tribe.
"No. I meant the wolf. The black wolf?"
Hira just continued to smile and tear into the poor, tasty chicken. I sighed in annoyance and plopped down beside her.
"Our tribe is special. Many of the men have the spirit of the wolf. The Gods smile upon us," she said quietly. I listened intently as she went on.
"The cold ones came. The pale ones with eyes the color of blood. They descended upon our villages nearly ten summers ago. I was just a child. One of them killed my mother."
I touched her back gently. Hira looked ready to cry but she steeled herself against it. If I knew anything about Quileute women, they were tough as nails.
"Taha Aki, the black wolf as you say, and many of our men were gifted with the spirit of the wolf. When one of his wives gave her life to save him from the jaws of the cold one, our women were gifted with it too," she explained, smirking. I smiled proudly. I could imagine her as a majestic wolf.
"But, the cold ones continue to wonder here. They smell our scent and come in bouts of rage. Though we are strong, they are stronger. I do apologize for our rudeness, Anuk. You look much like a pale one. Though...you smell of fire and not of death."
I was taken aback by her statement. I had never been told that before.
"Uh, thank you, Hira. And my name isn't-"
She cut me off with a raised hand. I listened closely to see what she was hearing but my ears weren't as strong as hers. I stood up slowly and watched the chief and his men tremble. My heart was pounding in my chest.
"Cold ones! Ready yourselves," Taha Aki roared at his people.
Most of the tribe retreated into their huts as if that would save them from the vampires. I knew better. If they could storm my pyramid, they could ambush anything.
The sound of feet hitting the ground finally reached my ears and all hell broke loose. Men and women began to burst into humonous wolves whilst I stood there in shock. Never, in my thousands of years, had I seen something like this. Werewolves didn't hold a candle to the sheer control these people had.
The vampires appeared out of thin air. I could see that they were Spanish. The man was tall and pale as the driven snow, with long raven hair and piercing red eyes. The woman was more of a sight. Crescent shaped scars littered her arms and neck. The rage filled look on her face as she ran towards me nearly sent a chill up my spine. Nearly.
Hira pushed me back with her large silver body and charged the woman without hesitation. I cursed under breath as the wolves began to fight the vampires. They were not winning but they weren't losing either.
"By the gods, what do I do," I said under breath. My body shook with the force of the fire inside me. I wanted to burn everything to the ground.
I watched as the vampires began winning. I could smell their age and I knew these wolves would not win if I didn't help. A shrill whine echo in my ear and I watched Hira fly through the air in slow motion. Any restraint I had was gone.
I roared and jumped off the ground to catch her before she fell. Her weight was extreme but I managed to set her on the ground gently. Once I saw that she was okay, all that gentleness was gone.
I charged forward, pushing the wolves out of the way. I kicked the man hard, sending him crashing back into the forest. The woman screamed and charged at me fast. I grunted as she punched me in the side, breaking my ribs. The pain was intense.
"You harlot," I roared. The woman laughed and dove toward my neck.
Before she had the chance to even lick me, Taha Aki's large jaws closed around her midsection. When she screamed, my hands shot forward and envelope her head in beautiful flames.
"No! Marìa!"
I turned to see the man charging at me. I will never forget the look in his eyes. There was a madness..a rage that only comes with the loss of a mate. Venom frothed at his mouth as he roared.
I never saw a vampire move so fast in all my years. I almost felt bad for him.
In his madness, he never saw them coming.
Hira and Leilani were on him in seconds. He was so close to me that his drool landed on my arm when they pounced on him. His body ripped in half to the sound of metal schreeching.
"Stop! I need to talk to talk to him," I called to my friends. They were reluctant but I gave them a firm look.
The man was so eager to kill me. He tried to pull himself across the ground to reattach his lower half but I wouldn't have it. He screamed in anguish as his legs went up in flames.
"You witch! You heretic! I will see you gutted and flayed alive!"
"You won't be seeing anything but the back of your eyelids," I snarled. The man's eyes remained empty and I scoffed. "Why did you come here?"
"We smelled the giant wolves. Their stench permeates this place," he said, comforting my suspicions.
I produced a large flame in my hand and walked toward him slowly.
"Just kill me. I have no reason to live," he said monotonously. The man laid back on the dirty ground and stared up at me without fear.
I extinguished the fire and smiled maniacally.
"Oh no, you won't die. You have a purpose," I cackled. At this, his eyes widened with fear. "You'll serve as a warning to any cold ones that wander here. If you do your job well, I will let you die with your mate."
Later that night, I watched the vampire dry sob from his spot tied to a tree beside his mate's headless body. He would be guarding these kind people until his sentence has been served. I felt evil but this was karma.
"The Lady of Fire!"
I looked up in confusion. The tribe was coming towards me with various items in their hands. Jewelry, fruits, live chickens, and so much more. They laid them down in front of me one by one. Each person kneeled before they walked away.
"What is going on," I asked them.
"The Lady of Fire," they chanted. The women moaned and began to dance around me. I sat there completely confused.
Taha Aki and his wives strode towards me with arms full of gold. My eyes widened and I shook my head frantically.
"I can't take your money, Chief. I am not what you think I am." His wise eyes smiled at me and he motioned for his wives to lay the gold at my feet.
"You are Lady of Fire. You struck down the cold ones with powers only a goddess could wield. We owe you our lives. From now, until forever," he said, kneeling in front of me.
I wanted to say no and tell him that I was not someone to praise, but he was insistent. His wives braided my hair and fed me the ripest wild grapes I had ever tasted. He summoned Hira and Leilani along with a handful of men. I was even more confused when he lined them up in front of me.
"Take your pick, Anuk Sukkahn. These are the finest spirit warriors we have to offer. If you should want the fairer sex, Hira and Leilani are our most beautiful warriors," he said stoically, going down the line.
I sat in horror, watching the men grin at me shyly. They couldn't have been older than sixteen summers. Hira and Leilani laughed at my expression.
"Uh, no! I mean, that's fine. I actually have a..a husband! Yes, a husband," I sputtered, moving to retreat to my hut.
"Only one husband? I'm sure he would not mind if you married one of my warriors," Taha Aki said, thinking he was being generous.
"No no. I'm fine, really. I'm very tired. I must rest. Thank you for your hospitality!"
I nearly ran to my hut. However, I was not so lucky. Seconds later, a few woman came into my room and began to fan me as I laid down. I groaned and pulled the furs over my head.
"By the gods."
"Shortly after our battle, the tribe loading my boat up with food and water to get me back across the ocean. It was very hard to leave them. I had become comfortable. But everything comes to end," I finished.
They were quiet for a while. They looked at me with different eyes now.
"You said there were female spirit warriors," Joseph said in confusion. "We haven't had a female spirit warrior that I know of."
I blinked in surprise. There were a lot of female wolves back then.
"Well, don't be surprised if you have to eat your words. Anything is possible and now you know just how possible," I chuckled.
"We have much to thank you for it seems. It is possible we wouldn't be here without your help," Billy Black muttered quietly. I shrugged.
"The Quileutes are a strong people. Taha Aki especially. Your ancestors would have found a way."
"Nonetheless, is there anything we can do to repay you," Harry asked. I was about to object but I remembered Carlisle and his family.
"Lift the treaty and ally with the Cullens."
Chaos erupted between the people immediately. I chuckled quietly and listened to their objections. They weren't sound at all. However, I was surprised to hear that the elders were not the ones objecting.
"Quiet! All of you! Anuk Sukkahn has a point," Quil Sr. said sternly. I didn't dare to correct him.
"Yes, she does. If we ally with the cold- the Cullens, we will have more protection for the tribe and Forks. It only makes sense," Harry explained. I wanted to start clapping.
"Then the treaty is broken. Joseph and the pack will no longer harass the Cullens. They will only patrol for human drinkers," Billy Black said sternly, looking directly at the pack.
"Thank you," I said humbly. "I assure you that the Cullens are good people. More human than you think. I will keep them in line if they should stray."
"It is only right. If we hadn't been steeped in prejudice we would be able to see for ourselves," Harry said kindly. "Is there anything else we can do?"
"That is all for now. I need to be getting home. The Cullens must be going insane by now," I laughed.
The people chuckled with me and we talked for a short moment before I made my way home. A small smile stretched across my face the whole way. I was doing the right thing for once and it felt really good.