Chan Chan
Bella's POV
After having a pleasant evening with the Shipibo tribe, Edward and I left Renesmee in the care of Jacob for the night and off we went to hunt. Nothing too exciting around but at least it was different. We found a tapir, an ocelot, and a few rather large Capybaras. We took our time, just enjoying each other's company. When the light of another day started to peek out, we headed back to the village.
"You know, Edward, I'm a little nervous about what to expect today. Do you think this Chandra will be as nice as her brother?" I asked him as we'd run at a VERY inhuman speed.
"I'm a little nervous myself, love. I never in a million years dreamed I'd ever find you. But that wasn't all…no I get to be a father, something I never even hoped to dream of. But to discover THAT wasn't all but I'd have a daughter of my own to love; and not just that, but I'd be the father of the 'Hope of the World'; well that was something I've never dared to hope to dream would ever happen. But wait--there's more, it was all done deliberately, and the person responsible for making it all come around, will be meeting me today for an accounting." Edward was more nervous than I'd ever seen him. His hand curled around mine tightly. "Yes, I think I'm more than a little nervous as well. I certainly DO hope Chandra will be as nice as Samon."
"Edward," I said coming to a complete stop. He ran a few more yards and turned around coming back to me with a sigh. "You know you're a good father, right?" I touched his face with my hand. I looked into his eyes and saw the slight tightening there. I knew his face to well to miss that. He was very nervous. Of course, so was I, but Edward seemed to be in the midst of a panic attack, I'd seen and heard them before.
He breathed and looked down at his feet. "I'm worried being a 'good' father may not be good enough for the role Nessie has to play. He kicked a log in our path; it shattered against an ancient Kapok Tree trunk. He looked me in the eye. His carefully controlled expression crumbled before my eyes. "I'm scared to death to meet Chandra today."
"You shouldn't be. Edward, you were chosen because of who you are. You're the best man I've ever known. Hey," I said. His gaze had shifted back to his feet and I waited until it returned to meet mine before I continued. "I love you mister. Don't forget we're in this together." I wrapped my arms around him. He lifted me off the ground to kiss me better.
"How did I get so lucky?" He asked as I braided my fingers through the back of his hair.
"Hey, you just stole my question." I told him as I kissed him with reckless abandonment. The feel of his lips on mine strengthened in intensity and before I knew it, we were changing 'activities' again.
After a few hours we made it back, still before the village was up and wandered hand in hand through the still quiet huts. All we had to do to find Renesmee was listen for the snores, not that we couldn't track them with our sense of smell, it was just with our highly sensitive ears, the snoring was the first thing we'd heard from over five miles out. We found a little hut and I pulled back the cloth door and peered in. Inside was Renesmee, who opened her eyes to the sound of our approach and Jacob, the source of snoring, the sound of which resonated so loudly a nuclear explosion would have been required to drowned out his racket and get his attention. Nessie smiled hugely and jumped into my arms. I quietly carried her outside to Edward.
"How's our little girl today?" I asked while hugging her to me. I spun her around and she giggled.
"Fine. Can I go hunting before we leave?" She asked with pleading eyes. "Please, please!!!" We couldn't have taken her with us last night because she needed her sleep, but there was probably a good hour before the sun brightened to normal 'morning' status.
"Why Nessie? You ate human food just last night?" I asked her gently but quietly.
"Well, we're leaving today for home when we're done at Chan Chan, and Jacob told me Grandpa was meeting us at the airport and I was staying with him for three days. I'm going to have human food a lot. Please can I hunt so I don't starve?" I laughed at her 'over dramatization'.
"Well, Mommy was suppose to meet Aunt Alice this morning to get all of our goodies from yesterday packed and your Uncle Emmett said something about needing me to help him hide something, though I have no idea what he's talking about. Let me see what our time frame is like here first."
Renesmee got a sulky expression on her face and sighed letting her eyes roll.
"You know what Bella Love, I'll take her." Edward said as Nessie started jumping for joy and leapt into her father's open arms.
"You're the best Daddy in the whole world!" She declared as she nuzzled noses with him.
"What did I tell you," I said with a nod. "Don't forget what Sarah Black said yesterday Edward,"
"What?" He had a puzzled look on his face. "To kick him in the shins?"
"No Silly, Nessie is ALWAYS right!" I said as Nessie nodded her head in agreement.
They took off, leaving me in the stillness of the village. After watching their departure, I heard the sound of someone's approach. As I turned to the sound, I saw the flutter of a doorway flap of a hut nearby. Hopefully I hadn't woken someone up accidentally. I completed the turn and was surprised when the approaching someone was Leah.
My initial thought had been, 'What have I done now?' I had some adjustments to make where Leah was concerned. Don't get me wrong, I'd always wanted the best for her and I was beyond thrilled for her new future and the pain that has literally been erased, but there's still something that tensed inside whenever she was around. I guessed it was in reaction to her past antagonisms hurled in my general direction. I had noticed the same apprehension yesterday afternoon shopping, even with Alice there for a buffer.
"Bella," She said cautiously as she approached. She looked down at her feet on the dirt pathway. "I guess Jake is still sleeping." She said with a nod at the ruckus. I nodded once and looked down myself. I realized I'd unconsciously tensed; waited for a cutting jibe or worse, a violent barrage of words. The silence dragged on until I finally realized it would not come.
"You know Bella, I kind of got the impression yesterday that umm, well, that, uh,"
Okay, now that was weird. Leah was tongue tied around me? Usually her mouth was in calisthenics mode doing high impact tongue lashings. What was going on? How did I react to this person who had been my greatest intimidator? I had no reference for how I should behave around her. She was Jake's beta; maybe I could just treat her like I would anyone else in his pack. Well I could give it a try.
"Just spit it out Leah" I said with a sigh; somehow, without the playfulness that would have accompanied these words otherwise, it kind of sounded flat, almost menacing.
Her face flashed to mine and I sensed she was extremely uncomfortable. I couldn't help it. I hated to see anyone in pain. No matter who it was. I leaned back against a tree and tried to give her a sympathetic look. She had obviously come out early to talk to me about something. She seemed like she was honestly trying to be 'nice' to me.
"Well," She stammered, "it's just a comment my Dad made yesterday at the Sun Temple. It kind of makes me think your Dad and my Mom, may be getting more serious than just dating."
"Oh," I said. I'd always liked Sue. She was Seth's mom and she came to my wedding. "I've actually been kind of hoping they would." I confessed, surprising myself with my candor.
"Me too," Leah said softly. She paused and then started pacing back and forth in front of me. Not quickly, but at a regular human pace. She was starting to make me nervous as well. Finally she continued, "I've been so worried for her ever since Dad died and this is the happiest I've seen her in the last three years. Your dad makes her happy."
"Well, hey," I added shrugging my shoulders. Maybe if I acted all casual, she wouldn't pace so much. "My Dad has been alone a lot longer than that. When I moved here he still had his old wedding picture up. I was very concerned for him. Now the pictures are gone and he's walking around on cloud nine all the time. Your Mom is responsible for that."
She paced back and forth a few more times before finally coming to a stop in front of me. It was so abrupt--it was startled. "So, if things continue to progress the way, they appear to be, then you and I would be kind of like sisters. I mean step sisters."
Oh, I hadn't thought about that at all. Well, if she hates on me from the Amazon most of the time, then it might not be too bad. We were both going to be around a lot longer than either of our parents would be. What exactly was she proposing here? A truce? Would we need one…it had been a pretty one-sided war so far.
"The thing is Bella, I made a huge mistake about you." That was unexpected. She took a deep breath and continued "You're really a great person. You're a fantastic mother, a loyal friend, apparently a loving wife and an exceptional daughter. I didn't see that. I blamed you for everything bad that happened to me when none of it was your fault. Some of the things that infuriated me, were things I just didn't understand, but now--I think I do."
Was it my imagination, or had Leah just apologized to me?
"Anyway," She continued. "I was kind of hoping maybe we could turn over a new leaf. You know kind of start over. I've never had a sister before and maybe I would like to have one. Maybe we could try to…well…I know it's really presumptuous of me to assume you'd…that…you'd forgive and forget…but, if you think you could, then I would really …like…no, appreciate that."
I couldn't help it. Her sincerity was evident in her every clumsily placed word. She was doing her best to apologize to me. How could I not do as she asked?
"Of course, I forgive you Leah. There is nothing I would like more than to be friends with you." Her relief was palatable at my words. Her tense stance relaxed.
"Really?" She breathed and caught me up in an awkward, tentative hug. She averted her nose, trying to be subtle about it. Goodness, you'd think she'd never hugged a vampire before. Hmmm, come to think of it, maybe she hadn't. She pulled back just as hesitantly a tiny smile playing across her lips. "Thank you Bella, really, thank you."
We started walking towards the sounds of early risers coming from around us and I saw that same door flap move as we passed. "You know what Leah, having sisters is kind of neat. I didn't have sisters or brothers before I got married…now I have some fantastic ones. I could show you all the perks of having a sister. It's kind of cool actually."
When we got to the main pavilion, we found Esme and Carlisle helping to prepare a fire for feeding our hungry traveling companions. "Good morning Bella, Leah" Carlisle called with a smile in his voice. Of course, they'd heard our entire conversation.
Esme smiled as warmly as ever clearly pleased at our new 'relationship'. "Would you ladies care to help me out here?"
"Absolutely," I said as Leah assented as well. Our traveling guests were almost as surprised as the entire Shipibo tribe was to wake up to the smell of breakfast cooking, by their Wolf Goddess and well, I didn't know what they made of the rest of us. Kaure knew what we were at least. Speaking of Kaure, she sauntered over to help out with the food preparations. Then the local women jumped in to help and before I knew it, breakfast was over with.
Jacob had been looking around for Nessie and I told him Edward had taken her out hunting. He nodded and wandered off to get ready for the day. I worked with Alice and soon we were all packed up and ready to go. Edward and Renesmee were still out hunting so I spent a little time watching the tribe's women paint beautiful ceramic vases. Leah had followed me over and before I knew it, the women had both of us painting our own vases with them our teachers. They seemed to take as much pride in instructing as they did in their own handiwork. When we were half way done, the elderly woman we had picked up yesterday stopped me to admire my design work. I was worried it wasn't up to 'par', but after she studied it intently, she had me add a few lines in a different design and finally received her nod of approval.
When Edward returned with Nessie, they watched us with rapt interest. Once I caught Edward very subtly tap his watch once and I made my apologies for our departure. Edward raised an eyebrow at the sudden attitude reversal between Leah and me but otherwise said nothing. We rounded up the rest of the family. I had been pleasantly surprised to find Rosalie and Esme surrounded by the children of the tribe, learning their songs and stories. There were three small children fighting over whose turn it was to sit in Rosalie's lap. Emmett watched the whole thing with an amused expression on his face. Esme got her face painted by a twelve year old girl who took her charge very seriously.
When we finally got everyone situated in the helicopter for takeoff, I looked back at the villagers as they waved good bye. For the first time since we'd arrived in the Amazon, I felt as though I was a part of something instead of an outsider. I wondered absently if some of it came from the relief…no, the freedom… I felt from letting go of the resentment I had all but unconsciously clung to towards Leah. It had been a truly liberating moment for me.
Edward had me run through the check list with him before 'lift-off', from my 'co-pilot' seat. Who would have every thought I would learn to …well; sort of learn anyway, to fly one of these things? Really Edward did all the flying, but he humored me. You know, letting me take over as 'Co-Pilot' for a minute or two.
I enjoyed the sights out of the front window of the helicopter today as much as yesterday. I'd gotten pretty comfortable with all the things Edward had taught me about flying the chopper and we were a good two hours into our three hour flight when Edward pointed out his window to me.
"Bella, look there!" He said excited. When I looked out, I saw the most amazing things. There were huge line drawings in the ground. I could only tell what they were from the sky. One was a humming bird, one a spider. There were large images of, fish, orcas, llamas, lizards.
"Wow!" was my brilliant response. "How old are these?" I asked him. I knew he'd know--after all Edward knew everything!
They are believed to have been created from between 200 BCE to 700 CE, made by the Nazca Indians. Named after them, in fact; called the Nazca Lines."
"I remember reading something about these once. Aren't they supposed to be for space travelers or something?" The memory was way too fuzzy because it was something from my human mind.
"That's one theory. Of course, with the flying ships Samon's family traveled in, who knows?" He was thoughtful for a minute. "See that one?" He said, pointing to one out my side. "They say that one is a landing strip."
"Yes. I could see how that could look like an airport or something. Huh!"
"Nessie," Edward called, "Come up here and let me show you the Nazca Lines!" She was in his lap in a flash. They enjoyed looking out the side and identified all the different shapes. In fact, everyone stared out the windows. I continued to check all the controls, my hand on my control stick. 'Hey, hello earth to pilot. Don't forget you're flying here.' I was getting antsy.
"Edward…" I said in a strained voice. I felt the panic increase. The helicopter was going along just fine, but he wasn't paying good enough attention to his controls for my comfort. "Hello, Mr. Pilot…don't forget you're flying this bird." By the end I was speaking through clenched teeth.
Edward laughed low and gentle. "Bella, you're silly. You've been flying this bird solo for the last forty four minutes and ten seconds."
"What?" The horror of our eminent crash filled me with dread. The chopper dipped as if in response.
"Whoa, whoa", Emmett hollered. "We're all going to die!"
"Very funny Emmett," Edward practically hissed at him as he helped me right the craft and told me very calmly to just keep it going straight and keep an eye on my bearings. Then he went back to identifying Nazca lines with Nessie. When we were past them, he took over the controls and I let out a sigh of relief. Then again, I was FLYING a helicopter, by myself. That was really something! And we didn't even crash or anything! The feelings I had were surreal and excited, almost giddy. There was a huge grin on my face I couldn't get rid of it no matter how hard I tried. Edward had quite a smug expression on his face and let out a chuckle.
"What?" I demanded. Was he going to make fun of my little 'dip'?
"Oh nothing, it was just a lot of fun watching you fly the friendly skies. You're a pretty hot pilot you know, and here I thought it was just supposed to be the stewardesses that were that way."
"Right!" I rolled my eyes and sighed. Then I spotted ruins in the sand to our right. "Look there! What is that?" I pointed to the area in question. I could see it lined right up with our landing destination on our navigation system.
"That, my dear, is Chan Chan." He said grinning again.
"That is so cool!" I breathed. Then, deciding to play along with my 'duties' I added, "Well, I can multi-task. Watch me be a pilot and an airline attendant at the same time!" I held up our radio handset and spoke into it without pressing the button.
"Attention, passengers for flight 001 of Cullen Airlines. We are approaching Chan Chan, our final destination. The temperature here is a wonderful sunny 68 degrees Fahrenheit / 20 degrees Celsius. Please make sure all trays and seats are in their upright position. And as always, thank you for flying with us."
Renesmee and our guests all clapped. Emmett told me to not quit my day job but Alice cuffed him one. It was just after one o'clock in the afternoon. Alice informed us we had six hours before we needed to leave to get to Lima, for our return flight home. We were in luck. A bus full of tourist had just left and hopefully, there wouldn't be anyone around while we were there. Our landing kicked up a sand storm. It seemed to die down as the blades slowed to a stop. We exited our aircraft while our 'human/werewolf' friends stretched and looked for 'facilities'. That was one aspect of being human that I definitely didn't miss.
Within five minutes, we were all settled and ready to explore. Well not explore precisely, rather our task was to find the entrance through the Sun Temple ruins above ground to the lower level. It was a good thing that Alice made us all change before we left the village into long pants, long-sleeved shirts and hats with scarves and sun glasses. Otherwise, we would be sparkling for anyone in the visitor's center. I only hoped that if spmeone was in there that they wouldn't have noticed our arrival; right--with a chopper and a sand storm! Well when we approached the ruins no one came out of the small building so maybe they had left with the tour group? Or maybe it was more than luck. Maybe, Samon was somehow behind this, or maybe Chandra. When I thought of her I started getting nervous inside again. Yesterday was amazing with Samon, but no one knew he was going to come. No one had time to get apprehensive. This time I knew Chandra was coming--coming to talk to me. It made me as excited as it did nervous, as impatient as I dreaded the moment.
I began studying the ancient clay walls for a distraction. There was an unusual circular pattern to them. I read a plaque at the entrance surprised to learn that the ruins used to have over 100,000 inhabitants. Its enormous walls were generously decorated with raised geometric figures, animal stylization and mythological creatures. It looked pretty good for an ancient city that was over 2,000 years old. I went into the first open courtyard and started to study the art work that was so detailed and skillfully placed in the walls.
"What are you doing, Bella?" Edward asked as he came up behind me and wound his arms around my waist. "You're acting like a tourist here, not the 'Key Holder'." He chuckled once and ducked to kiss my neck. His chuckle had a nervous edge to it.
"You just made that name up to make me more nervous." I added trying to hide my own rising panic. "Honestly, right this minute, I think I'd prefer to be a tourist." I fidgeted with my hands. That by itself should have been the dead giveaway because I had never fidgeted since becoming a vampire.
"Don't worry, love." He said into my neck. "We're in this together. Besides," He went on with over done casualness, "If Chandra is anything like Samon, we'll be so happy to meet her we'll forget all about our nerves."
I sighed and turned around to kiss him. It was just about the only thing that helped to calm my growing apprehension.
"There you two are," Emmett said in mock surprise. "I guess, you think kissing will help us find the entrance to the Sun Temple." He added wiggling his eyebrows at us.
"No Emmett, I don't" I added, "But this just might." I gestured to a big sign behind him that held a map with the words 'you are here' on it. In the middle of the complex was a symbol and the word 'Temple of the Sun'.
He walked off muttering under his breath, "Just like a woman…get directions from a map."
We made our way to the remains of the crumbling Sun Temple. It didn't look like much at all. It was in no way preserved as the one in Akahim had been. We had to sneak around some barricades to get to the crumbling steps that led downward.
I remembered from yesterdays instructions read by Zafrina in the Inner Temple, that the Chimor people performed a ritual that moved the main temple plazas of the city underground. We would have to access it from the stairs leading down from the supposed remains of the Sun Temple. It would only be accessed by 'The Jaguar God' and 'The Wolf Goddess'. Well it seemed as though Alice was in charge of this show for now. She led us directly to the stairs that were hidden beneath a large slab of rock that she deftly lifted out of the way. Then she took us down a hole as dark as night. The staircase was very small and crowded. 'The Bead Maker's baby cried for the first time today. We proceeded despite the cries as there was no room to adjust positions or give the little mother room to care for her baby even if she could've seen. Our Indian company became uneasy because of the dark; I suddenly remembered how I'd felt in a dark underground passageway surrounded by vampires. It had pretty much terrified me too. I realized that I hadn't thought about our human companion's needs very much. Had I forgotten so quickly what it was like to be human? Shouldn't I remember best of all, since it was only two years ago that I was one?
When we got to the bottom, we were in a very small room. It reminded me of the one at the base of the stairs leading to the tunnels in Akahim. Of course I could see fine. Nahuel and Leah placed their palms on a panel by the side of the door and two things happened. First, small shafts opened in the ceiling just about five inches each, which allowed rays of sun to stream into the room. I heard a collective sigh of relief from the Ticunans and the Shipibos. The second thing to happen was that the heavy metal door ahead of us unlocked. Nahuel swung it open and we entered the underground city of Chan Chan.
We were along an outside ledge of what looked like a mountain face. There were about a six hundred foot drop from our ledge to the floor. We were about half way between the top and the bottom of the arena that loomed ahead of us and filled our vision. There were two complete pyramids, one slightly larger than the other. There were smaller buildings, walls, statues, even fountains in the main plaza that suddenly started flowing water from an unknown source and filled the water basins. Light streamed in through many openings in the ceiling. I guessed many of them had just opened up because there was a scent here of old dust. Just as suddenly a nice breeze of air came from our left.
I looked at the path ahead of us. It twisted around the inside of the outer wall for a good three and a half mile hike. This didn't bother me at all, I remembered a time when it would have been my undoing. Then I remembered our human companions. Many of them were older and one with a baby--a baby who still cried despite the mother's efforts.
'Maybe we should help them get to the bottom safely.' I thought as I went to the oldest lady there, 'The Ancient Sage' and picked her up carefully. She'd been having a hard enough time just getting this far and I chided myself that I hadn't try to assist her earlier. She was alarmed when I first approached her but I gave her my best smile and she seemed to appreciate my efforts. Not to be outdone, Emmett gathered up the elderly gentleman, our 'Seeker of Truth' and did the same. Thankfully, we could all still understand each other because the 'Seeker' told Emmett that he wasn't as 'pretty' as I was but he'd do. I thought it funny but Emmett just muttered something about everyone being a comedian. Esme offered to take 'The Bead Maker's' baby and when the child was in Esme's arms she stopped crying right away becoming very peaceful.
Before we knew it we were at the base of the underground city and Nahuel stood in front and addressed us as a group.
"Welcome everyone to the City of Chan Chan! We're here today, as you well know, to open the underground tunnel and inner chambers of the Temple of the Moon and the Sun Temple. Our first task will be to open the underground tunnel. This will be accomplished by 'The Monkey Hunter'." The young man in red decorations came to the front to stand beside Nahuel. "You will open it with this stone." Huilen opened the chest and handed Nahuel the smaller blue topaz. This topaz would fit nicely inside of Renesmee's hand. It was a wide oval shape to it but was multi-cut to sparkle like crazy.
"Alice, if you will continue to lead the way, as you've seen our path already," Nahuel said as he gestured with his hand. Alice led us through a few side passageways and before we knew it we were far away from the brightly lit arena and going in a path that looked as though it was carved from the stone. I still carried "The Ancient Magi', she was feather light and seemed content enough allowing me to do her walking for her. It was only fifteen minutes of twists and turns before we came to another small room. As with the one in Akahim, this one had three stone doors all sealed shut. The center one had a small indentation above it that matched the size of the Blue Topaz exactly. 'The Monkey Hunter' placed the stone to the indentation and 'voila' the three doors opened with a grinding sound. 'The Monkey Hunter' gave the gem back to Nahuel and Alice led us back through the maze until we were once again in the arena.
"Now we will begin our ceremonies at The Temple of the Moon." Nahuel began. "This will be the smaller temple to the left of The Sun Temple. For this to happen, we will need, 'The Bead Maker'," The young mother gratefully handed her baby once more to Esme and went to the front by Nahuel. "And 'The Woman Who Speaks from her Heart'," Kaure came forward and joined them. She was actually starting to smile. Nahuel proceeded to explain what would happen in The Temple of the Moon. I noted it was exactly the same process that had been done in Akahim…even down to it just being for women and Nahuel inside the inner chamber. We climbed the steps of the pyramid and I did not put 'The Ancient Magi' down until we were in the outer chamber. She actually gave me a hug when I did. Hopefully that was out of kindness for the assistance and not because she was grateful I'd finally put her down. 'The Bead Maker' placed the same oval Blue Topaz gem in the Keyport by the side of the door and it slid open to reveal the inner chamber.
The only difference here was that the room glowed with a bluish light to it whereas in The Moon Temple in Akahim, it glowed with a green one. Of course, we had used a jade gem in the temple yesterday and this one used a blue topaz. Maybe that was the difference. All of the women poured into the tiny room. There were fifteen of us crowded in the room that was the size of a small gazebo. I immediately sought out the bench behind me. I was surprised that Kaure made a point of deliberately sitting next to me. I was afraid I'd had accidentally scared her yesterday although I couldn't have been more delighted to see her. As soon as she sat down, Nahuel motioned to her to join him so Kaure looked me in the eye and told me to save her seat. I smiled at her and said I would. Rose had Renesmee in her lap and Esme still held a very happy Indian baby. Nahuel gave Kaure the Blue topaz and she placed it into the block Keyport. The gem slid down and locked into place. The entire Keyport began to glow blue. Kaure came and sat back down, only this time she surprised me again by taking hold of my hand. She must not have been scared at all. I was so happy in that moment that I looked at her smiling face and smiled back. Nahuel and Leah placed their hands on the 'Bar of Light' which started to pulse with a stronger and stronger blue light. Then just like yesterday, we were bathed in light, blue this time. It got brighter and brighter and as it did, the connection I felt to every other woman in the room intensified.
What was interesting this time, was that with Kaure holding my hand, my first connection was with her. As soon as I felt it, she spoke to my mind. Actually it was stronger than just speaking to my mind, it was more like somehow, our souls were connected, shared. I could sense her feelings and thoughts as if they were my own. I felt her feelings two years ago when she came to Isle Esme the first time. I felt her terror for my safety. I felt her try to keep her terror from showing and thinking she must be a crazy woman to believe the old stories…she was seeing demons that didn't exist. Then the second visit where she had come bearing a fish dinner as an excuse to make sure I was alright. How she had checked the color in my cheeks and was so relieved, only to see me get sick and clutch at my stomach…my stomach that was clearly rounder than it had been a week earlier. The horror she had felt at that moment. She knew then for sure what Edward was. She knew he had brought me here to kill me bearing his demon spawn. She was so infuriated that she yelled at him. She didn't even care if it was the last thing she would ever say. In fact, she was sure he would kill her. But she could not let him go on thinking he had fooled her. Then he had stopped speaking Portuguese and started speaking Ticunan. She was startled. She asked him if he was a blood drinker and he had quietly said yes. She had crossed herself, just in case he killed her now, so that she'd make it out alright. She started to accuse him of luring me there to breed his monster spawn and told him that I was as good as dead. But then he had surprised her. His expression had become agonized. He pled with her to tell him what to do to stop it. She had no answer that he wanted to hear. It was in this moment that she realized that although Edward was a monster, he was not a demon. He hadn't brought me there to kill me and had no idea that offspring was even possible for him. She'd understood in that moment that Edward loved me and was really there on his honeymoon with me and was in more agony over my 'condition' then she was. A deep sadness had filled her as she watched the comprehension settle over Edward of how grave things were. I saw her come towards me and place a hand on my stomach in response to Edward's question of what will happen to me and she said with infinite sadness, 'Morte'.
Then I saw her leave that night on the boat and how she had gone to her small home in Rio and prayed all night for my safety. She'd cried for two weeks. Then she left for her jungle home, shattered.. She had desperately tried to get the haunting images out of her mind. But I saw her efforts had been unsuccessful, and that the memories caused her great sadness. Then I saw how shocked she was to see me yesterday when she saw that I had become like Edward. She realized he must have changed me to save my life. I felt the joy that filled her when Renesmee touched her mind and shared the visitation of Samon. I saw how this great woman was able to put all of the fear aside from herself and knew that if we were in the company of The Jaguar God and The Wolf Goddess, and sent by Samon, that we were okay and could be trusted despite what we were. Then she showed me how she had watched me throughout the day: flying the chopper, playing with my daughter, talking to Jacob, being affectionate with Edward, talking to Leah, helping feed people even though I didn't eat food myself, and taking an interest in the traditions of the Shipibo. She was no longer afraid but admired me and thought I was a great woman. This so surprised me that I opened my feelings to her as well.
I let her see how I felt upon realizing what she had done to come out to check on me and how brave I thought she was to risk angering a vampire to check on my safety. I let her know how that gesture had made me feel. I let her see that I thought she was courageous and that I believed that she was 'The Woman Who Speaks from Her Heart'.
I gave her hand a light squeeze. I was so focused on Kaure, that I didn't understand that the connection I had with Kaure had been experienced by every woman in the room. When we lifted our gaze from each other, we were both surprised to see everyone looking at us. Then the connection was strengthened even more and feelings were shared between all of us.
'The Ancient Magi' showed me what an honor it was to be here today and how happy she was because when she was shown the vision and knew that she was old and wouldn't be able to have the stamina to endure the hike. She was shown she would be carried by one who loves with her whole heart. She thanked me for thinking of her and her needs. I felt a connection to 'The Bead Maker' and her baby, to my family and my sweet little girl. I loved the feeling of 'reconnection' once again with Alice and the feeling that came from Rosalie had a subtle change from what they had been yesterday. They were now more tranquil. Also the feelings I got from Leah were more calm and peaceful than before. As exhilarating as the experience had been yesterday, today it was an entirely different feeling. Had I changed as well to notice it? I didn't know. I'd have to think about it some more.
Finally the light began to lessen with each pulse and with it the inner connection as well. In a matter of three minutes and twenty one seconds, the room had returned to its previous illumination and we were released from our 'shared' connection. We looked around at each other with broad smiles. It was even more exhilarating than before. I thought over why that was and decided it must have been that I, being more in tune with myself and those around me, was better prepared for the experience. I looked over to Kaure who threw an arm around my waist. There were tears in her eyes. That was how we'd left the Inner Chamber of the Temple of the Moon. I didn't get a chance to go to Edward, as not only Esme, but Alice and Rosalie all threw their arms around him, as their sharing in Kaure's memories of the scene from Esme's Island had played out for them as well and they were affected seeing the stress Edward had faced anew.
We made our way to the Sun Temple, where Nahuel stopped us before entering and once again went over our parts in the ceremony. Then I helped 'The Ancient Magi' up the many steps to the top of The Sun Temple. We entered and went to the Outer Chamber where 'The Lost Leader' set the larger trillion shaped Blue Topaz to the indentation to the side of the door and it opened soundlessly to an already lit Inner Chamber. When I entered this Inner Temple, it was very similar to the one in Akahim, but it had colorful murals on the walls and a different sun symbol design on the floor. Everyone took their place at the outer ring of the design on the floor. Edward took my hand and squeezed it tightly. I looked at him and saw the slight tightening around his eyes. His panic was back. This brought mine back to the surface again. I took a deep breath to steady myself.
'Oh Help', I thought.
Nahuel, called me to the Keyport, where he handed me the trillion-shaped large blue topaz. I held it in my hand, went over to the Keyport and set it on top of the block. It slipped effortlessly into place. The entire block glowed blue and it lit the room even brighter. It looked like the morning sun was shining around us. I went back to my place beside Edward.
Next Nahuel called 'The Seeker of Truth' forward and we all heard the sound of stone grinding as a stone chest came out of the floor. The elderly gentleman reached in and took out a skin scroll. After opening it and looking at it for a minute, he started reading. As before, he read in his native tongue but I heard it in English. He read from the Chronicles of Akakor:
So they went forth, the warriors of the Chosen Tribes, armed with bows and arrows. They went as far as the High Mountains and down to the Great River. They passed through flocks of animals and birds, with their knives at the ready and with sharp bamboo lances. And they also went over the Great Cataract where they were to keep watch. They stood at the four paths, at the Blue and at the Black, at the Red and at the Yellow Way. There they stood and stabbed to death the White Barbarians who dared to advance toward Akakor.
The Gods kept us waiting. Although the priests had calculated their return to be close at hand, their golden ships did not appear. My people were alone in their fight against the White Barbarians, who slowly and inexorably were integrating the Great Forest into their empire. But the Ugha Mongulala were not defeated yet. Men still lived according to the laws of Lhasa, protected by the knowledge and the wisdom of our Former Masters.
To make the following comprehensible, I must once again tell about the Golden Age when the Gods still ruled over a vast empire on earth. For thousands of years, the priests have kept and preserved the Gods' bequest. Nothing has been lost, neither the knowledge of the Ancient Fathers nor the secret documents that are kept in the underground Great Temple of the Sun. These are mysterious pictures, maps, and drawings made by the Gods, telling about the enigmatic and dark prehistory of the earth.
Next, Nahuel called Edward to the center of the Sun Symbol and gave him 'The Morning Sun Star Sapphire' to hold out in front of him. The light hit it and, like yesterday, sent a shaft of light to a specific area on one wall where Zafrina, Senna and Kachiri set to work at once deciphering the writing. After a few minutes, Zafrina turned towards our circle and spoke as Senna and Kachiri read the ancient text.
"The Instructions for the next ceremonies are as follows: The ancient city of Macchu Picchu. You will find those for the ceremonies from the Murunahua and the Yanomami Tribes." She then went on to tell the titles of those who would perform the rituals and ended by giving a listing of the remaining nine ancient cities where ceremonies would be held within the next year. They were Ofir, Cajamarquilla, Cuzco, Nara, Paititi, Cadira, Chavin, Salazere and finally Akakor itself.
After the three Amazon vampires returned to their position in the circle, 'The Ancient Magi' went to the Keyport and upon placing her hand over it had her sight opened to the same vision that Alice had told us about yesterday with a few differences. This vision did not focus on us so much as other Amazonian people who would be in attendance. There was mention of the battle that would wage to prevent the ceremonies from finishing along with the warning to beware of 'The Two-Faced Man' and 'The Pale Warrior'. The one difference here was the addition of a fearsome beast.
When she returned to her spot in the circle, Nahuel and Leah went to the 'Bar of Knowledge' and placed their hands on it as the light pulsed brighter and brighter in response. When the bar released them they returned to the circle. Immediately upon their return, 'The Morning Sun Star Sapphire' that was resting in Edward's hand immediately started glowing brighter and brighter until it was as bright as looking into the sun. It burned into a pillar in the center of the sun symbol where Edward had stood earlier. As yesterday, we began to see movement in the center of the intense light. Then the light began to fade and we were looking at a beautiful woman. She had shoulder length blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She wore a simple blue floor length gown and a gold necklace with the sun design on its front.
Edward gasped.
At the same time, she turned towards me and looked me in the eye. I heard her musical voice in my mind, 'Hello Isabella Marie Swan Cullen. I am Chandra. Welcome to the Sun Temple here in the ancient city of Chan Chan. I am so very happy to finally get to speak with you in person. Please be at ease here with me and know that you are dearly loved by not just me but my entire family.'
As soon as she released me from her gaze, Edward whispered to me, "My reckless angel!"
***Disclaimer: The Nazca Lines…while in Peru, were NOT on the way to Chan Chan…I…umm…moved them :)