Chapter 14: Stories

I don't think Rosalie could take many more surprises; although, her being a godmother shouldn't have surprised her. She asked me herself, a long time ago. She obviously didn't remember though. So I decided to tell her the story.

"She already told you that I delivered you. I was visiting your mother after not interacting with the line since before the 20th century, before the American Civil War, actually. She was already six months along when I arrived and I decided to stay. I acted as her midwife, which was fortunate since the umbilical cord got caught around your neck. I stayed away from a while, watching you from a distance. Once your brothers were born though, your mother was too focused on them, and she passed me over to you, since I was living near by, 'alone'. Our relationship blossomed from there, and it didn't take long for you to see that I was different. I finally told you when you were six, told you what I am, who I am, and the history of the Sanralae. You were entranced, to say the least, and you clung to me even more. I gave you the locket, telling you that, no matter where you went or what happened, to never forget the legacy you were a part of.

"You grew up and I stayed; I couldn't bear leaving you so young and you were so attached to me. In hindsight, it might have been better. But I made the choice to stay. However, once you got older, you were more influenced by my world rather than the human world, your world. You kept begging me to change you; but I couldn't. I haven't created a vampire since Rylin nearly destroyed all the vampires in my coven. I also didn't want to change your human life; though, again, I knew I was making an impact by just being in your life at all, but I loved you too much to let you go; call me selfish. But, ultimately, it wasn't my decision. When you turned 16, your father, who was minimally involved with you before then, wanted to marry you off, a norm for the time. I was critical of his ideas; he wanted to use you to move up the food change, use your beauty from my genes to exploit you for his own betterment. Your mother, who is my actual descendant, obviously wouldn't dispute him, and when I did, he forced you to stay away from me, fully shutting me off from you.

"You were head-strong, refusing to eat or go out, and he made you pay for it. Finally, I slipped into your room one night. I told you I was leaving, and to forget about me, to go back and listen as your father said, but not forgetting your independent nature, a trait you got from me. You were resistant; you made a final attempt for me to give you my venom and you could come with me. But I couldn't; I feared for your safety if you came with me. Even though the public vampire world does not know my whereabouts, I couldn't risk it. I took your memories; it was the only way for it not to be painful for you; it was the only way you would let me go. I left the locket with you though, to allow something of myself to be with you. I moved on. I was called back once word of Royce and his plan got to Cylis. I instructed him to watch you, while I returned to Rochester. I was too late. Cylis had been incapacitated, and you were nearly dead. I healed some of the more serious wounds, but I couldn't heal enough to save you. I knew the Cullens had moved there since I had been gone, and I summoned Carlisle to you, taking the locket and influencing him to change you. I waited in the background as you changed, then I left, leaving Cylis with you. The guilt was overpowering, especially as unhappy you were at your change. Your memories of me were buried, and I wanted very badly to give them back, since now you were a part of the vampire world eternally. But I didn't; my presence nearly got you killed once, and I wasn't about to do it again. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, but I needed to protect you, protect you from my world."

Rosalie didn't speak at first, but I could feel that she was on the verge of tears that she could not shed. She wasn't angry with me anymore, I could tell. When she spoke, it was shaky as she tried to contain her emotions.

"Why did Royce do what he did? Why attack me? What did he have against me?"

"What did Royce have against you? Nothing personally. He was merely going to use it as an opportunity to spring board to his next step," I said. She looked confused and my face twisted slightly, grim.

"You've seen what some humans will do to move up the Vercrian ranks, though they were all very low on the totem pole," I said. She stared for a moment, then realization hit, as did with the rest of the Cullens, as they remembered the humans that had tried to attack them hours earlier.

"Yes. With your murder, they surely would have been granted their transformations." I said, my voice disgusted. I looked down at Ila, my head running through her hair again.

"Before I took away your memories, you asked me that, if the prophecy were to ever come true, that if I ever found a way to bear a child, that you could be the child's godmother." I looked up at her, my eyes filled with emotion at bringing up these old memories, painful and joyful equally. "I kept my word, Rosa." There was a long silence; no one spoke. But finally, Esme asked. It was a question all of them had been wondering, but it was nagging her too much for her to suppress it even more.

"How did you do it?" She murmured. I met her gaze, and I saw the broken heart of a mother who lost her child. I bit back the true spectrum of my emotions, only allowing her to see the kindness that was there.

"I will not act as if I know how you feel; even with my abilities, I cannot fathom the pain of losing your child," I looked down at my own as I spoke "I fear that every day and yet I cannot do anything but do everything in my power to keep myself from feeling it firsthand. I understand your need; I felt the same for an immeasurable amount of time. However, I cannot help you. She has already pointed out that you and I are not the same type of vampire, and thus, the transformation reversal cannot, will not work for you. I am sorry. I wish I could help. But it is not something I can fix. Vampirism is irreversible. I have been the only exception, and only because I am not the normal vampire." Esme's eyes dulled, but she nodded. She understood, and she felt no ill will toward me; she was happy I was able to fulfill my wishes.

"How was it?" She asked, her eyes on the young girl in my arms. I smiled slightly.

"When I was transformed back, it did not take long for me to get pregnant. I was human again, and I was adjusting to being one again after so many years. My mate was adjusting as well; he hadn't had to treat me differently since before he changed me. When I found out, he was very protective, worrying for both my and the baby's sake. My pregnancy was the typical 40 week period, though she came a few days earlier. We decided to go back home for the time, to go back to where we first met. There was an island where we lived just after my transformation, completely isolated where we were free to do as we pleased. We had taken care of it over the years and we returned for the small period. I gave birth in late June, the 21st. I didn't know the exact date at the time—we were very isolated, even then—but she was born on the summer solstice, which in our culture is considered a magical time. Though her existence itself could be called as such." I paused; I had never actually relayed this story to anyone before. The people who I had interacted with since her birth had been present for most of the process. But, like my daughter, I could feel the Cullen's aura, their goodness, their trust. And, surprisingly, I trusted them, something that is very difficult for me, after so many years of broken trust. They were intrigued to hear of Ila's past, of the prophecy, and of their own history. They were fascinated by Cylis, by me, and my Ila, understandable, of course. So I continued, my eyes staying on my daughter.

"I had a hard time during my labor, but it was worth it. The company didn't make it better; my mate was worried about me the entire time. Again, it's understandable, and he's old enough to know that women's bodies are meant to undergo that level of pain. But even still, that knowledge didn't stop him. Although, looking back on it, it proves to me that if men had to give birth rather than us, the human race would have died out long ago." I laughed lightly before taking on a more serious, awed tone.

"But holding her for the first time is an experience I will never forget, regardless of my memory. She was long-awaited, and the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen on the planet. And I've seen many beautiful things. I will admit that I'm a bit biased though." I smiled at the end ruefully. I could the Cullens smile slightly to themselves.

"If you don't mind me asking….how old are you?" Emmett asked cautiously. I met his gaze, my mouth fighting a smile.

"Now, Emmett, you've been married long enough to know to not ask a woman, much less a vampire, about her age." I scolded him lightly, my smile breaking through. The Cullens took in my lighthearted attitude, still on edge because of who they were speaking to. But Emmett didn't rescind the question, and he and the rest of them waited for my answer, an answer they could innately tell I would give. I paused a moment before answering.

"I was born in roughly 10,300 B.C.E," I replied. They froze, their bodies locking in shock. They were expecting that answer and I again fought an amused smirk.

"I have been told that I look young for my age, though. I don't look a day over 7,000, right?" I teased. They drank in my attitude, relaxing under my aura. Again, no one spoke as Ila slept in my lap. She moved and twisted slightly and a quick brush of her mind showed her symptoms beginning to take over her in her sleep. I sighed, frustrated.

"Is she going to be ok?" Edward asked. I looked up at him and he looked me straight in the eye. I met his gaze, looking into the face of the main who had won my baby girl's heart. I was not ready to deal with him though, but deal with him I would. I sighed again.

"Maybe. I don't know. That's always been a struggle. Because of what she is, a vampire offspring of a vampire and a vampire-turned human, she has both vampiric and human DNA. And the dominance of one over the other is constantly changing as she grows up. The vampire DNA is dominant over human DNA, such as brown eyes are dominant over blue; which is why vampire venom can overpower human traits during the transformation. But, with her, some of her human characteristics come through and stay. I believe it stems from the fact that human and vampire DNA is not as different as one may at first may think. But, regardless, when something new comes up, it is hard to deal with it accordingly. It's a mother's worse fear, of watching her child suffer and not knowing exactly how to help her. But this," I gestured to her skinny, malnourished form "Is from malnourishment. She hasn't been feeding. She is better though, because I gave her my own blood. When I brought her here, I used my blood to suppress her vampire traits, to hide her in the human world as much as possible. That was not helping her malnutrition, but I have now started the reversal process. She will revert back to herself soon. However, regardless of her DNA, she still needs blood to survive and she has starved herself too much. The pain in her abdomen and stomach is from hunger, just as the stomach 'growls' when one is hungry. Human food isn't enough anymore, and she knew when she woke up this morning. She knew she couldn't keep going like this anymore."

"What can we do to help?" Carlisle asked, stepping forward. I smiled slightly, appreciating the gesture, though there was not much for them to do. But I decided to take him up on it anyway.

"In the trunk of my car is a cooler packed with human blood. There should also be more IV tubes and medical equipment. I would appreciate it if you could bring a few bags up here in the cooler and put the rest in the fridge," I requested, holding out the key. He nodded and the boys and he stood and left the room. While they did, Esme and Alice moved closer to the bed, getting closer to me and Ila. Esme reached out and brushed her cheek lightly. I could tell she loved her—they all did— and I felt content in that, in the past year and a half since I left her, she felt loved. Rosalie was struggling mentally though and I met her gaze. She worked to say something to me, to apologize, but I hushed her.

"It's ok, Rosa," I assured her. She nodded, her eyes on Ila, and I could feel the protective edge in her mind, a trait I was glad to see in my niece.

"You haven't told us your name," Alice asked, hesitant. I smiled kindly at her, allowing her to feel comfort and not ill at ease as she was.

"I've had many names over the years. But the name I was given when I was born is Nila, meaning dark blue for my eyes," I said. Alice smiled as Esme responded.

"Your eyes are beautiful."

"Thank you. You cannot see it now, but Ila has my eyes, almost exactly. But hers have more gold in them." I said, prideful that my daughter shared such a characteristic with me.

"Ila is a such beautiful name," Esme murmured, her hand running over Ila's arm. I smiled slightly, my eyes still on Ila, entranced as I always was by my daughter.

"She told you what the name means in terms of mythology and culture. But the literal translation can also mean 'Earth'; and she is my entire world. 'Bela', on the other hand, was a nickname that was occasionally used in my village, and it was a nickname her father gave to her the night she was born," I said.

"Where is her father?" Alice asked. My heart clenched tightly and I fought back the emotion in my voice once more. I didn't look at either of them when I answered.

"Zakali was present when she was born. But he left us that night. I haven't seen him since," I admitted. They were shocked, as were the men as they came back in with the cooler and equipment. Their minds all converged in the same direction though and I quickly worked to explain.

"He didn't leave for the reasons you are thinking. Think about it; he is the first vampire to ever walk the planet. He's had a target on his back all his life. When she was born, he could imagine the thought of her—or me—getting hurt because of him. She was and is too young, too innocent and good, to be caught up in the danger of our world. So he left, to protect me and her, knowing that I was human and defenseless. He believed that if he left and we stayed in hiding, we would be safe. Up until the situation with James last spring, he was right."

They were still shocked, but one of them understood me immediately. Edward met my eyes, his eyes haunted as he thought of his leaving his mate, just her father had left us. To protect the ones they loved.

"He left us to protect us," I said, "But, after Ila was born and Zakali had gone, I knew I couldn't stay human. Humanity, for me, was only based in the effort to bear children, and the transition was much harder for me than I dreamed. You all wish you could be human again, for various reasons, but I can tell you that going from vampire to human after so long is very difficult, insurmountable even. Just based on the loss of your strength and senses, you feel like a fly, defenseless, at the will of those stronger than you, which was a lot.

"I know you all are looking and thinking that the transformation, if at all possible, would be worth it, but I can assure you. There's a reason I chose to transform back again. Think on this; if you were granted your humanity again, right here, right now, what would change? Regardless of the fact that you were human, there would still be vampires who know of your existence, those who would want to kill you. Once you become a part of the vampire world, you cannot leave it that easily. It stays with you, even if you change back. Also, you would not be able to stand the defenselessness. Emmett," I turned to him, "if you were human again, but Rosalie wasn't. If she was in danger, you wouldn't be able to defend her and both of you would die. The same situation works for every single one of you. Losing your enhanced senses, the abilities you have that make you the vampire you are cripples you more than you know."

They didn't know how to respond to that. But, as they thought it through, they could see my reasoning.

"Right after I stopped breastfeeding, I changed back. Since her father was gone, I knew I needed to protect her the best that I could, and the only way I knew how was through becoming a vampire again." I summarized. I gave them a few minutes to drink it in, before turning to Cylis. He was expecting it and immediately began amending.

"I apologize profusely, Ralae, but I could not do nothing again—" he began but I put a hand up.

"I understand, Cylis. It is forgiven. Did you deal with the bodies on the La Push reservation?" I asked. He nodded, relieved at my words.

"Yes, and I have called those in to deal with the issue in Seattle. It is done," he assured me. I nodded, satisfied. The Cullens caught on.

"Seattle? As in the newborn army?" Jasper asked. I nodded.

"Yes, with the woman Victoria as their leader," I said.

"So Bella was right," Carlisle mused with Edward, to which he nodded.

"The situation is taken care of. There will be no more deaths. I personally took care of Victoria on my way here, since she believed it suitable to target my daughter," I said flippantly.

"Which is a bad move on her part," Emmett said and I smiled.

"You're learning, Emmett. Just be aware of that, because you're technically my nephew-in-law," I said, lightly threatening. He got the message but was not very disturbed. He knew that I knew he treated her like royalty, and I was glad Rosalie got at least half of what she wanted.

Edward's mind got my attention. He was thinking about Ila, as he always seemed to be, but he was also thinking about the impasse on the argument they have been having for the past weeks. She wanted become a vampire, at least Isabella Swan did, and he wanted her to marry him. She also wanted them to have a 'real honeymoon', to which I couldn't a small mental laugh at the boy unable to actually think the word 'sex'. It was still mulling over in his head, how to deal with it, now that she no longer needed to be 'changed'. I felt some sympathy for him, at his fear, because I understood it from being with Zakali for so long. But, at the same time, I didn't sympathize for him; he was also the one who was trying to take the one thing I had left in the world from me. But I would deal with that later. I was brought out of my reverie when I felt Ila shift in her sleep, her mind beginning to feel with agitation and pain. I held her still, not wanting her to lash out with her body and hit one of the Cullens' stone bodies. She fought me, the symptoms building up. I repositioned myself above her as her eyes flew open.

I let out a cry as I woke up, my body curling in on myself. My fingers gripped the sheets beneath me tightly, ripping them instantly. I was trembling, hard, trying to control my body as the hunger overcame my mind. I felt my mother's warm hands on me and I cried out to her, sobbing.

"I need to turn you onto your back," she instructed me but I shook my head. I couldn't move; everything hurt so badly.

"Please, baby, it's the only way I can make this stop," she pleaded. I whimpered but allowed her to turn me, crying out in pain as she did so.

"I know, baby, I know, shh," she murmured. She was sitting next to me and my body was curled around her. Tears were streaming from my face, the scarlet water blinding me. I suddenly smelled disinfectant and felt my shirt being pulled up, something cool and wet being rubbed onto my skin. I knew what it was and I fought my instincts to escape the grasp my mother had on me. I felt her inject a needle into my abdomen and, moments later, the area went numb. I couldn't help the tears coming down my cheeks from the hunger pains. My mother quickly and expertly cut a hole in my stomach wall and inserted a tube, cleaning it up quickly before attaching the other end to IV bag of blood that was on the wall. I watched through blurred vision as the fluid moved through the tub quickly and into my stomach.

My mother wiped my tears gently, cleaning her hands with a tissue to get rid of the blood. It was only a few moments later that I felt the pain begin to ebb and my body relaxed while I continued to sob quietly. My mother murmured to me gently, comforting me as I recoiled around her. I could sense others around me and I looked to find Rose, Esme, and Alice besides me, their eyes worried. My tears still flowing, I touched Esme's hand that was on my arm.

"Hey there, sweetheart," she murmured, brushing her fingertips against my skin comfortingly. I buried myself into my mother's lap again, breathing deeply as the blood flowed into my stomach, feeding me. I looked up at my mother and her eyes were worried for me, but in control.

"It's ok," she told me, "It won't be long now." I knew what she meant and I sighed deeply as I relaxed into her, allowing my body to rest and recupierate, before the real work began.

Hey everyone! Sorry it took so long! But this is a long chapter, with a lot more answers!

VIP: sujari6, BridieM, KAT-TWILIGHT75, and heartstrings13

MVP: kgarrison3, teamwolfaltw

Love you guys! Hope you all enjoyed! Please review! They make me happy! :)

~Melinda :)