A/N – Many thanks to TwiliteAddict for her eagle, editing eye.

As the fires died to embers and ashes feathered around our feet, my family and the few guests that were left began to make our way back to the house. Our fairytale wedding had turned into a ruinous mess no one could stomach any further. Alice sobbed openly about it, especially when she saw the condition of my dress. I couldn't muster much comfort, numbed as I was from the events that just ripped a big hole in my and Edward's plans for a happily-ever-after. I put my arms around her shaking shoulders, thankful she was not dead by Sulpicia's hand. Edward, or rather, Benji walked behind us in silence with Eleazar.

Alice looked back at him a few times and offered him a feeble smile, only to turn back to me and ask in a tumbling gush of concern,

"Are you okay? I mean, I know you are not okay, but is Edward going to be...okay?"

"I'm...we'll be okay." I smiled, poking a little fun at her. "More than okay. We all survived, despite being ambushed. We just need to regroup and form a plan. Right, Jasper?" I looked expectantly to the old General I respected and loved, thankful I had his strategic skills on my side.

He nodded his agreement and winked. "You betcha, Bella. We ran her the hell outta here pretty quick once we got our bearings. She's toast against any offense we assemble. Jes' you wait n' see."

"I'm so over waiting," I quipped ruefully.

"Good. I've always preferred planning offensive maneuvers." Jasper flicked his head in a motion to indicate those behind us. "Think those two will be ready and rearin' to go as well? Eleazar has just suffered a considerable loss, and his pain is being pushed back – I've seen it often during times of loss. He will burn through the energy created from Carmen's murder and the need for vengeance quickly. He has incredible focus right now. He wants to jump right in and get you up to speed."

I nodded my head. "Good. How about Benji? Can you read anything of Edward?

Jaspers lips tightened into a firm line. "No. But this Benji character...seems earnest enough and all, but I gotta tell ya, he's a few straws short of a bale."

"How do you mean?"

"He's ...trying too hard. Desperate. Seems to be searching for a missing part of himself." Jasper closed his eyes to concentrate further, "Yes. There is a huge part of him missing and it all centers around True Love. He knows he's had it, but his memory about it is definitely missing. This can cause considerable imbalance." I turned to look back at Benji, but Jasper discretely stopped me. "Don't scan him now, you will spook the poor bastard. Wait until we get inside and you can put yourself in a position to check out what I'm talking about."

"Again with the waiting?" I sassed.

"Patience is a virtue for a reason, darlin'." Jasper winked. Alice and I felt his push of security and confidence. Jasper had been through many a war. He was old hat at calming the troops.

By the time we had trudged inside and assembled the rag-tag rest of the group in the Great Room, it was quite noticeable there were not many covens that had remained once Sulpicia had played her big reveal card. I was fine with that. This was not a fight for cowards or go-betweens. The Denali sisters calmly and efficiently saw to our guests, placating them with bags of animal or human blood in various rooms throughout the house. Eleazar propped his serpentine walking stick against the tree sculpture in the Great Room. It was rather odd a vampire would carry a walking aid, so I concluded immediately that it must be some type of magical item. I certainly hoped it was, as we could certainly use all the charmed weaponry available considering we were still smarting from Sulpicia's nasty sucker punch.

My own family gathered around us, offering shy smiles to poor awkward, but polite Benji, who though he looked somewhat the same as their loved one and my husband, it was definitely apparent he was not. The body language clues were easiest to discern. His posture was very different. He seemed huddled into himself. I switched my vision to view his ethereal body, and Jasper was right. His aura flashed shades denoting protective shielding, and I knew he was doing everything he could to remain calm and composed instead of the revealing the exposed, raw emotion he resonated. I looked into his eyes, which had darkened from Edward's green to a deep rich brown. If the eyes were truly the window to the soul, I did not see my husband. I saw a haunted being.

"Benji...can I get you anything? How about some water?"

I knew in his human form there must have been a need, and water was a natural grounding tool that I knew his spirit could use. Needing no communication, Esme was at his side immediately with a glass, which he took shyly, only to chug it down as soon as he brought it to his lips. When finished, his eyes began to fill with tears, breaking my heart wide open. I reached to wipe them away, my body still instinctually reacting with intimate familiarity. He stopped me, seeming embarrassed.

"My apologies for the depth of emotion, my Queen. It has been so long since I have been shown any kindness. My heart is overflowing with feelings I have not been allowed to access for centuries. But I promise you this, I am dedicated to protecting your soul's mate within this human body. This vessel is not as frail as you think. Sulpicia's magic is strong, but so is the will of both souls that now dwell within!" He made a fist and placed it against his chest in fierce testament to his words, but I was still not entirely convinced of his stability. I decided best to put him at ease and speak with Eleazar about his condition privately later.

"Please, call me Isabella. I am no queen, nor a goddess of judgment. But I am trusting you with this vessel in all its strength and fragility, so please, do not fail me, and I can promise you the same."

Understanding flashed in his eyes and he stood a little straighter.

"I shall not fail you, Isabella."

I smiled at him. I knew Edward was in there somewhere, and it felt alien to look upon him with anything less than love in my heart, so I projected these feelings straight to my intended. Benji brightened and exclaimed excitedly,

"Edward tells me he felt you!"

"How is he telling you?"

"He is a mind reader, yes? Well, he can speak directly to my mind. When he wants to. He mostly keeps to himself." Benji's voice was apologetic, prompting me want to pick at the string he left hanging.

"Does he do this because he is in pain?"

"Not really. He does it to...maintain his sense of self. He was like this in life, yes? Introvert? He did this to shield himself from the intrusion of everyone's thoughts. Well, he is in a sense, hard wired to my mind, so he isolates himself for protection and to get his bearings. He is insisting his spirit is strengthened by the outpouring of love straight from your heart chakra. He is not afraid, your love makes him fearless."

Intense relief flooded through me and then the rest of our family, grounding us all with the knowledge our loved one was not yet lost. The atmosphere which was once beset with grief and hopelessness was now tingling with the positive resonance of possibility. Knowing for now Edward was safe and somewhat secure gave us the boost we needed to get to the next step. I hoped Eleazar truly was ready to shed some light on what that could be.

Eleazar was beaming with a type of fatherly pride at Benji. I knew he had risked much to rescue the Djinn from Sulpicia, so it was not much wonder he would become so emotionally invested in his well being. I knew there had to be a damn good reason the Djinn was so important to the puzzle, and I was really looking forward to Eleazar enlightening me on his role.

As if feeling my growing energy to act, Eleazar gravitated towards me and spoke softly, "We should talk. I have so many things to tell you."

"Yes. But are you sure you are...ready?"

He understood immediately and dismissed my concern with a wave of his hand.

"Carmen knew I was a warrior and a spy, and with that comes dangers. Even for her. She was a brave woman and I'm sure she gave Sulpicia a fight. After seeing Xandru in spirit form, I am blessed with the validation that when I am to turn into light, I will see her in the Aether."

His face was relaxed and his eyes were clear. His auric color field was full of the love and void of fear in his soul. There was grief...of course there was grief. But there was no fear. And that was the most important thing. Jasper nodded his head in silent agreement from across the room. Eleazar grinned at me, knowing I was using my abilities to review the truth of his testimonial. "See? I am ready. Now is the time to listen and then we shall plan. This is the first time in thousands of years this entire story will be told, and what a story it is! Even I did not know the entire truth until Ra gave it to me, only hours ago. The quicker I bring you up to speed and we get on to our next destination, the better. Time is not our friend."

"Never has been. I've found the best thing to do is to stop looking at Time as a straight line." I winked. It was a favorite saying of Harry's. I knew the immortals always appreciated the philosophical existentialism of the concept of time. How could they not?

Eleazar brightened.

"You are right, so right. That is why the OurosBouros symbol is a snake swallowing its own tail. An endless loop of ending and beginning. You have a wise teacher."

"Yes. The best. He is a Quileute Shaman named Harry Clearwater. He is like family to me."

"Yes, Xandru had mentioned him. Did you see your Uncle and his heroic triumph?"

"Briefly. Not until he jumped upon my Phoenix did I realize it was him." "Where do you think they went?"

"Probably back to Volterra. Sulpicia has an expansive facility built underground. I would imagine she scampered back to her hellish hole of black magic, the Oubliette."

"Oubliette? Isn't that from a movie?" Emmett scoffed dramatically at Sulpicia's name choice. "Yeah! David Bowie was a Goblin King. Labyrinth!"

Eleazar raised an eyebrow, stating solemnly, "Sadly, they are nothing alike except in name." He put his arm around Benji, who had turned inward at the mention of Sulpicia's lair.

I felt intuitively that had to have been where Sulpicia had been keeping him. Eleazar's concern for the Djinn was very paternal.

Benji looked at him with terror in his eyes.

"I don't ever want to go back there," he whispered like a frightened child. "She made me do horrible things."

"You won't. I promise." Eleazar comforted him.

Emmett's face fell. He felt awful, especially for triggering Benji's fear.

"Should we...go after Xandru? Is that our next destination?" Emmett asked timidly.

"No. He is in spirit form and she can not truly harm him. He is eternal. She has no power over him except to send him back whence he came, and at sunrise he will be called back to the Aether regardless."

We all turned to look out the windows. Sure enough, dawn was breaking, washing the war torn acreage outside with soft, yellow light. We all bowed our heads in gratitude and prayer for Xandru. I was filled with pride once more for the courage and bravery which ran so strong down through my lineage.

"Thanks for asking about going after Xandru, Em," I said. He had a truly valiant heart.

Perking up a bit, he replied dutifully, "It's nothing. Human, Vamp or Caspar the warrior ghost form, he's family."

Eleazar smiled wistfully. "Family is what it is all about."

The Denali sisters had returned from settling the extra guests and enfolded Eleazar in a rush of Russian, Spanish, and emotional embraces. The Cullens also gathered to issue their sympathies and support. All except for Emmett. He drifted over to the redwood tree and was studying Eleazar's walking stick with rather intense fascination. He was just about to reach out and touch it when it transformed into a six- foot long cobra, who reared and hissed at my very shocked brother before it slithered quickly up the varnished red cedar's upper branches.

"Whoa! That stick is not a stick!" Emmett shouted excitedly.

He was looking ready to clamber up after the cobra before Eleazar yelled out, "No! Please leave her alone!"

Eleazar rushed to the trunk and looked upwards and began to talk in soft apologetic tones to the pissed off cobra in our cousin's tree.

"My apologies, Wadjet, I did not mean to be so rude as to not introduce you to my friends..."

"You are forgiven. My apologies as well, Eleazar. I am weary and in need of resssst. These branches are so lovely. I may nap here while you catch everyone up."

I heard her as plain as day in my head. I was pretty sure everyone did judging by the look of boyish incredulity on Emmett's face.

He rushed to Eleazar's side. "It talks? The snake talks?" He tapped the side of his temple. "I heard it in my head. Did anyone else hear it in their heads?"

We all nodded and confirmed we did in fact hear the snake's telepathic communication. I had to admit, despite my dislike of snakes, it truly was a fascinating creature.

"It is a she, Emmett, and her name is Wadjet. She has been guiding me from Egypt to Barcelona to Alaska. She is a one of the oldest Egyptian goddesses and my saviour." Eleazar had a bemused expression on his face, knowing Em's curiousity meant no harm. "How about we let Wadjet rest and I shall take the time now to tell you all how Benji and I came to you and where we must go from here."

Emmett's face fell and he looked longingly up at the snake, issuing a put upon sigh. "She does look pretty tired."

"It is a great place to sleep," Tanya chirped.

Em smiled, remembering his cousin sleeping in the Redwoods. "You would know, Cuz." Turning to Eleazar, my big lug of a brother gave his best hopeful, pleading look. "Think she would be up to chattin' later? After her snooze? I've never talked to a snake before..."

Wadjet lifted her head and flicked her tongue, giving what I swear was a glare of warning. Eleazar caught it easily and, ever the diplomat, gently advised Emmett perhaps he could ask the snake herself a little later.

Emmett simply shrugged and without missing a beat pointed to Benji and blurted,

"Now that we know the walking stick is not a walking stick, can we clarify why Edward is not...Edward, and ummm... who exactly this dude is?"

Benji's cheeks flamed and he balled his fists at his side. I put my arm around his shoulder for comfort.

"Let's keep in mind this 'dude' is keeping my husband safe." I felt bad for taking the tone of reproach with Emmett, but we had to be clear and supportive of Benji's attempt at protecting Edward while they shared a body.

Eleazar stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Benji's other shoulder.

"Do you mind if I tell them your story, friend?"

"Not at all. I can only welcome this for there are so many pieces I am missing. It will be a blessing to have them filled in by a friend. The floor is yours, dear Eleazar."

For three hours we listened to a tumultuous tale spanning from Pre-dynastic Egypt to the present. The revelations had us reeling. Those of us present to hear Eleazar's story were being given the history of our very origins. Carlisle was rapt and asked Eleazar only one question: would this story someday become common knowledge? Eleazar offered a sad smile and stated, "Only if the goddess wishes it to be so. We shall see her soon enough to ask her ourselves."

I also knew why this was as much Benji's story as it was Hathor's. He had been her lover and her original Champion. His abduction was the reason my destiny was put into fruition. Stolen from her by her sister and enemy, Sekhmet tortured him mercilessly and held him prisoner for hundreds of years. No wonder there was so much of him missing! He had been created for the sole purpose – should I say soul purpose - of protecting her. He was as much hers as Edward was mine! Our fates intertwining in this time and space was no accident. I wept openly when Eleazar spoke of Hathor's anguish in missing her mate, her twin flame. The tears she cried had created a Lake of Loneliness and Longing. I empathized with her pain knowing I would submit myself to the same eventual fade should Edward be taken from me in such a fashion.

Benji stoically listened to the entire tale, and though his auric field flashed many warnings of emotional overload, he did not allow the triggers to release him. In fact, it almost felt like he was using this information to fill the empty parts of himself. I wondered if the necklace Eleazar mentioned, named Menit, was really necessary.

"You look concerned about something, Isabella," Eleazar said. "What is it?"

"Are you absolutely sure we should go to Ireland first? What if we waste precious time in fetching Hathor's necklace?"

"Absolutely positive. The necklace is said to have stored parts of Hathor's own magic. It may have something she needs, or perhaps even Benji needs for our quest. The retrieval of Menit was the final instruction my High Priest and The Source's father Amun Ra gave me. He had planned on telling you himself, Bella...but..."

I nodded, acknowledging the pain it took for Eleazar to speak of the sacrifice Ra made so he could escape with the two Djinn from the temple in Denderah. The other Djinn, Jaru, did not make it. So much intense loss over the past twenty four hours. I could not wait to finish this ages old war. I took Eleazar's hand in condolence for the loss of his mentor.

"I would have welcomed another conversation with Ra. I think it would be an easier conversation actually knowing who I was speaking with. He was so cryptic our first meeting."

"He had to be. The timing on when he could reveal himself was negotiated to the nose, as the moment Sulpicia confirmed his abandonment and supposed treachery, she killed him."

"How did an Egyptian necklace end up in Dublin Ireland?" Carlisle inquired.

"I have no idea, but I'm sure Dr. Siobhan O'Riorden in Dublin will fill us in. Apparently the necklace has been under her care for the OurosBouros since discovered in an excavation of one of the mounds at Tara."

"I will begin making arrangements for air travel..." Carlisle started off before Eleazar interrupted him.

"No need, my friend." Wadjet was descending the tree and curling at Eleazar's feet. "Wadjet can have us there immediately, but unfortunately, it will only be seating for three. Besides, I have much more important matters for you and the rest of the family to tend to. There is an entire race of vampires that are without a governmental structure. Despite the Volturi's evil designs, they had respect and control over our race. Once news spreads of what happened at Bella's wedding...there will be chaos."

Eleazar turned to Jasper.

"I know you were looking to create a nice defensive plan for us, but I think your talents would be more suited to supplying any offensive should things...get out of hand."

Moving toward Carlisle, Eleazar continued to delegate. "You were amongst the brothers for centuries. You are the most respected being of your race and the only vampire to ever be in Aro's inner circle and walk away to become, of all things, a 'vegetarian.' I would suggest that you be the face and voice of reason in this changeover. There is a new dawn approaching for our kind. Freedom is ours for the taking, but there are still forces out there that could rise up and take advantage of the vacuum left. Santorini has been making his rounds in Volterra, secretly gathering forces to support Sulpicia should she need to show she still has the numbers even though her guards were decimated. I daresay, should you accept this mission, your job could be more difficult and dangerous than ours."

Carlisle was very quiet. If there was one thing that Edward had said about Carlisle's time with the Volturi, it was that he abhorred their abuse of power and carnal ways. He left once he saw through Aro's wheedling facade, and was only able to because he was so highly regarded within the community. Aro knew the danger of turning someone like Carlisle Cullen into a martyr, so he let him go on his way. I now saw why Aro had kept Carlisle around for so long. He had been a legitimate threat to his totalitarian rule. But the real question was: would Carlisle even want this type of role? Being the Political Leader of the Vampire Race was a completely different thing than being the head of a coven.

Stepping forward, Carlisle placed a hand on Eleazar's shoulder.

"The things you have told me today have only strengthened my resolve to see our race be given responsible, open government. We have emerged from the fascist grip the Volturi have suffocated and subterfuged us with since the dark ages. This is no longer a dark age. This is an age of light. Of new beginnings. I accept this role with an open heart, my friend. Upon hearing your tale and secret battle behind the scenes, and seeing it myself brought to the fore against my family and Bella's, I am inspired to stamp out this evil while we have it on the run."

The room erupted in applause. Benji slipped up behind me, startling me slightly. "Edward wanted you to know how proud he is right now of his father, of his family, and especially of you. His heart is so full, it could almost spill into mine."

I turned and instinctively placed one of my hands on my chest and the other on Benji's. The connection flowed from my heart chakra to his and back again, allowing me to experience a shadow of Edward's joy at his father's announcement.

Eleazar stepped up to us as we broke apart. Smiles wide on our faces. "We should go. Are you ready?"

"Sure. Are you sure Wadjet can take all three of us?" Emmett was trying not to sulk in the corner. He had been so excited when he discovered Wadjet's mode of travel while listening to Eleazar's tale. He had expressed an interest in going for a "ride" to which Wadjet had hissed at him and climbed up Eleazar's pant leg to wrap herself around his waist like a large belt.

She answered my question as Emmett lumbered away disappointed.

"I can only transport Eleazar. The Djinn had once been in a bottle and easily transported by him. You and Benji can ride upon your Spirit Animal. The Benu Bird of fire will be able to follow me through the grid."

I remembered my phoenix rearing up and refusing to go through the portal Sulpicia had made with her own powders and Totem Animal.

"Are you sure? My phoenix would not follow Sulpicia into the grid..."

"Of course, I am sure. Sulpicia used dark magics and unnatural keys to access the grid. She travels the shadow lands and your Phoenix knows better. I am the only one who has safe access between the sssssacred ssssssites."

Eleazar grinned. He was privy to the conversation, too, it seemed. "She's rather sensitive about that."

"Yes, I can tell." I winked. "My apologies, Wadjet," I soothed the snake. "I am very appreciative of your guidance and knowledge."

"Yess...yess...of course. Come, we musssst go back to the portal in the Mountain. The Bear will be grumpy enough we have to use his cave and disssssturb his ssssssleep sssoo ssssssoon.."

"Oh man!" I heard Emmett whine in the distance. Wadjet's channel of communication must have been a party line. "You guys get to visit the Spirit Bear too? I always miss out on the cool stuff!"

After promising Emmett she would take him to meet Sa personally in the coming spring when he was through hibernating, the three of us bid an emotional farewell to our families, leaving them to the affairs of the physical world as we set off to climb Mount Denali so we could sort out the affairs of the celestial.

Gods and Monsters, indeed.