A/N : Bittersweet Reunion...name says it all. I've been itching to write this particular chapter for ages now. And I think I did a pretty decent and neat job. But the judgement is in your hands people.
Anyways thanks to cecld16 , HummingBird , Guest , dkgors and lytebrytehybrid88 for reviewing and adding the story to alerts. Thanks for your love...
On you guys go with the chapter...Enjoy!
Chapter 26
Bittersweet Reunion
NPOV
"A witch." Unknown, indistinguishable annotes colored his flawless pale face, so beautiful and proportionate, I knew my family would do anything in their power to see us together. But that wasn't the case. Neither would it ever be. I was with Jake now, nothing else mattered. Maybe a thing or two. . . . .
And hearing your best friend was a witch was definitely one of those 'a thing or two'. There was no sense of nefarious lies in his crimson iris. And I found no reason to mistrust his statement. But I had no intellect of believing him either. His claim of knowing her for an eternity had too much of sincerity in it that made it even harder to choose between the two alternatives.
"Thats what she is." His prefected accent hauled with each syllable as he carefully deliberated my reaction. I, however, didn't provide him with the satisfaction of my astonishment as once I would have.
"I don't believe you." I firmly stated, taking a note of the finest details I had, to some extent, missed seeing. He looked a tonne different than what he used to and I liked the new additions and changes. nd for once, he looked like a normal human merely due to the absence of black-red cloaked uniform.
"Why would I lie to you? I have no intent or purpose for doing so." He lifted his hand and caressed my cheek with his thumb, his icy touch pulverizing tingles that were not quite the same as from Jacob's touch. He was so close i could taste his cold breath. And yet I didn't feel flushed like I used to years back.
Please stop. I projected to him though my left hand that now rested on his shoulder.
"What? Scared you'll fall out of love with your boy toy?" Chuckling he respected my wishes and maintained a healthy distance from me.
"His name's Jacob."
"I'm well aware of that Miss Cullen. I had the pleasure of meeting him this evening."
"I don't understand. Camilla, a witch?"
"Not just Camilla, but David too. They're a lot older than what they pretend. They are just seeking some recreation away from London." He answered with a distant edge to his voice.
"How do you know all of this?" I asked, suddenly curious about his relationship with two of my best buds.
"They are the most powerful wizards to ever live. Surely, Volturi would have knowledge of them." I shook my head, not withstanding what he meant to imply.
"They are alliance with the Volturi." That hit a nerve, and a chord and I finally snapped out the trance he still could exhibit upon me.
"What?!"
"Camilla and David have been our allies for too long. Hell, their kids used to play Hide and Seek in the castle." He shrugged non-chalantly. Say what now!
"Kids?" I nearly screeched, scaring away all the bird forms out in the moonlit forest. Camilla and David. Wizard and Witches. Volturi and Kids. The gospel honest truth in those few words was unfuckingbelievable. Could this world get any more complicated?
And then it struck me. That gangly adolescent boy, an exact replica of both of them was their . . . . . kid. The way Camilla had looked at him was motherly in every possible sense.
"You didn't know any of this, did you?" He asked and I absent-mindedly shook my head, still in a trance like state. "I'm surprised Camilla didn't tell you. Its not in her nature to keep things."
"Witches? Wow!" I murmured.
"You've always wanted to meet a witch. And you've been practically living with one without any knowledge. Talk about irony."
"So she knows you're a vampire?" I asked stupidly.
"She's the most powerful being in existence of paranormal. What would be astounding if she didn't know about oue existence. She's aware you're no human either."
"Ok. This is getting really weird. I'm lost." He chuckled darkly, his silent laughter resonating through the dark.
"You must talk to her." I nodded stifling a yawn.
"The human needs her sleep." He smiled and did the most unexpected gesture ever. Leaning in his lips ghosted a tender peck on my forehead, letting all his regrets and longing in one mere kiss.
"Demetri . . . . " I sighed. And before I knew it, he was gone like a flash of light, a gust of wind, leaving behind his wild aura into the darkness with me.
I walked back home at an unnaturally slow pace, comprehending and evaluating all the considerations that tracker of mine had acquainted me with.
Camilla was a witch and David a wizard. They weren't the 16-17 year old teenagers, they portrayed but more. What were they? Like in their 50s? 60s? 70s? 100s maybe? They had consummated their relationship in every way humanly possible and allied with our brutal vampire royalty. More so, their kids had played in castles of Volterra. So they were like the best pals?
Suddenly I was frightened for an unknwonnn reason. Just the though of their nature sent chills down my spine.
Would they try to eliminate me now that I knew about their furtive existence? Or would they act the same? Pretending their facade all along?
So many jumbled thoughts, so many questions and complications but no one I could look up to for answers. Either way Christmas was bound to be exhilarating and stirring.
Small lamps decorated the living room of the mansion lending a soft glow to the light hues on the walls. There was not a single soul in sight. And the silence enveloping the house was prickly defeaning. No wonder where all the couples were.
Nights in the Cullen household brought a wave of tenacity and boldness, an excitement and a thrill, with adrenaline flavoring everything. While most vampires crept in the dark, my family chose to be productive and on a rare special occasion reproductive, the very one I was conceived on. There was no need for me to indulge the gory details, I shall spare them for heaven's sake and mine.
Sighing I walked up to my room and put on some music to escape the creeping quietude. Could things be any more absurd? Or intertwined?
My phone vibrated in my jeans. I retrieved it and saw a text on home screen from none other than my newly discovered wizard friend Camilla.
Christmas celebrations at mine. It said.
Was Demetri going to be a part of their celebration? Why Why Why? Why did he have to be friends with them? Why not someone else? Why only mine?
I needed a distraction, provision of which was effortlessly done by Jacob.
I'm bored. Talk to me. -N
Yeah. I do need to talk to you about something. -J
But today even Jake seemed distant. Everything was fine until Demetri showed up, unknowingly tampering mine and Jake's relationship/. Since the moment I introduced both of my actual 'lovers', a sort of dominance took fire, a battle of unspoken words. And I was afraid if my connections would cause any harm to Jake. The Volturi would find reason enough in my relationship with Jake to start an extermination against us.
Where are you at? -N
On my way to Embry's. He just vanished today. -J
To think of it, Embry had literally vanished from the parking lot. He had been a little strange all week. The littlest of things would set him off. I wasn't sure what was happening these days. It was like a smoldering chaos, a blazing mayhem. And I could not do anything but hope for things to be alright.
That night I don't know how but sleep found me and it was one of the most peaceful slumber I'd ever had. Maybe because my brain was so exhausted and worn out, it decided to shut all the windows and billboard the message KNOCKED OUT COLD.
The morning of 24th December brought another massive round of snowfall. Outside the window, the beautiful greens and browns were under layers of thick snow and the Sun had not peeked out yet. The most disheartening thing was School was out for festivities and that strictly meant less seeing Jake.
I tried to warm my numb spirits with a long hot shower and spent ample amount of time in the closet deciding what to wear. Eventually I settled on cargos and my black masculine hoodie, a generous donation from Jacob's collection and the outcome of my sneaky theft. The jacket was baggy and fell to my knees but it was warm, just like its former owner.
My stomach growled loudly, protesting the delay of delicious breakfast Grandma prepared with utmost love. But my hunger died down, once and for all when I skipped downstairs.
There, in the living room couch, nestled with atrocity were my forever young parents Edward and Isabella surrounded by the family. My heart literally jumped out of my chest and nearly stopped.
They were back! They were back during the vacation. Why did they come back so early? Had Mom gotten her fill of Dad completely? So soon? What now? Why did they have to be back when I would have so less time with Jake. And now it would be almost negligible. Ungh!
Their marble faces were cold and hard as stone, impassive and professionally eloquent in all sorts of notions. Mom feigned interest upon uniting with family but I knew the real distaste in that shielded mind. She was not even fazed on seeing her siblings.
Dad, however, perfect in poker face was facading joy and delight in every word passed in the huddled circle. He was uneasy by the fact Mom wasn't happy in the least bit to see everyone again. But al least he didn't show any signs of boredom. Unlike Mom, Dad was a little sensitive to people's emotions. Maybe because he could peep inside their heads.
All heads snapped in my direction at the sound of my footsteps. And suddenly I felt exposed and naked under their magnified blunt vision and true to my mom's forme human side, I flushed for no reason.
"Mom! Dad!" Fifteen years of hybrid lifestyle and you master the art of semblance. Bless the devil who started this practice. My fake delight was excruciating to hear on my own. What child wasn't happy to see their parents? What child was discontented on their return? I was, the biggest exception to this prospect. I felt not the slightest inclination to jump in my father's arms nor embrace my mother's alien love.
Good thing, I had a mental shield of my own. The anarchy in my head could've been too much for Dad to endure. I was perplexed and perturbed. I was dying to break free out of this suffocating environment.
My face didn't light up as a child's would upon seeing their parents after long months of absence. Instead, I was petrified and already my diligent brain was working miles per minute, calculating incentives and predicting the unforseen. I was vaguely aware of the surroundings, only because of the terror Mom and Dad exercised over my existence. They weren't moved by a fraction of degree nor did they fake delight. Their once gold orbs full of warmth and love were now cold and lifeless, in harmony with their physical nature.
The only occasion they had displayed their parental love and instincts was before the confrontation with the Volturi. I remembered climbing on piano stool and imitating Dad's movement across the whites and blacks and the way he affectionately kissed my forehead and nuzzling my face in Mom's neck and snuggling in her cold but inviting embrace as she read me stories past bedtime. Those first few months were truly what I'd always expected from them. Those were my treasured memories, the very ones I cherished.. From then on, as far as I can recall, there has been no incident memorable or worth remembering.
"Hello darling." Mom's sweet admonishing voice broke the reverie, laced with disguised disgust and disinterest. Dad let Mom do the formalities first, well aware of the hatred and despise she exhibited on being outsmarted, outwitted or falling next to best or the first. It was a noble choice, wise not to let the cold war begin already and I admired him for this - the only quality I could ever differentiate - which only kicked into action only when Mom was the object of concern.
"Hello Mom. Its nice to see you." I replied, without missing a beat and hugged her with caution. The caution was mutual but the effort was one sided - as always. I sighed internally but braved a happy face for the sake of my sanity and my family. No more words were exchanged and she wordlessly claimed her position on the couch. Next was Dad.
He had a smile plastered on his face, genuine or forced I couldn't tell but was satisfied nonetheless.
"Dad." I embraced him fiercely and she seemed utterly shocked but returned it, respecting my feelings and my heart swelled at the sweet gesture. But my Welcome Home hug was over too soon and the game of wit and mental strategies had begun with silence acknowledging the fact.
"When did you get back?" I asked once we settled down. Or rather I stood awkwardly and he settled on the couch. Without showing any signs of disconcert I fell back behind Rosalie who was seated on the loveseat with Uncle Emmett.
"Six in the morning, with your father's maniac flight." Mom answered, looking me straight in the eye, suspecting something. Oh No. Had I done something irresponsible already?
"How was your trip?" At least she showed some emotion on that. She actually smiled and I felt easy a tenth of an ounce.
"It was good darling. Isle Esme was great." Jasper and Emmett snickered lightly but otherwise kept mum.
"Hope you had a great time Bella. We missed you two around." Aunt Rose piped in, with a tenor of acid in her tone. We all knew what she meant by missed. At least my aunts, uncles and I did. Aunt Alice and I shared a meaningful glance.
"I have restocked your closet with all the latest trends. In the cottage of course." Aunt A saved the day in time before either parties could start firing and I flashed her a smile which she obliquely returned.
"That thing's still up?" Thing is what Mom accidentally referred the cottage to as and disappointment lanced on Grandma's face before it was gone.
"We did some renovations to accommodate your ideas Bella. It looks brand new." Grandma smiled weakly at her newest daughter-in-law.
"Thank you Esme." It was my Dad, who trilled in thoughtfully acknowledging Grandma's efforts, to which she merely beamed with content. Together my parents made a couple truly one of a kind. Their classic morals and ostentatious habits, along the manner they carried themselves in and the best or worst I cannot decide was their ability to be unbothered, classified them as beings of an incongruous era. What baffled me was how two purely identical stone headed people could love each other with such fierce passion that they couldn't control their urges.
"So Renesmee, would you like to share your views on High School?" Dad asked, looking somewhat complacent, almost enjoying some inside joke. I wanted to question his amusement but I knew better than to pry information.
"High School . . . . . . its different, a whole new level of human norms and antsy teenagers stumbling their way. Its quite a classic experience I get to share with a few of sensible adolescents. It has provided me with something to concentrate on. It requires my attention in every aspect of academics but also an inclination to look up to something new to learn everyday. I enjoy my time in school amidst the befuddlement of queen bees and their antics. I would say its quite a drama theatre with unexpected twists and a disciplined institution with us students literally walking on egg shells." My not-so-eloquent answer by Edward-Bella standards seemed plausible.
"Are you contented with this decision?" Mom asked, probably expecting me to babble of its negatives. She, however, was testing the waters before bombarding me with her mental assaults. Thats the way she worked.
"I am." My reply had been short and clipped. On observing her incredulous expression and raised brows I quickly added, "This has been, so far, the best dimension of my life." Whether it the liveliness in my tone or the shrillness in my voice, both of them had figured out a lot had happened in their blissful absence.
"What is it that has got you so high and dreamy? You've never acted this way before." Damn you Mom! I mentally yelled, for being such an intent observant and quickly picking on loose threads. I opened my mouth to answer her but Grandma beat me to it.
"Our little Renesmee is ready for her own story of birds and bees." Both my aunts and I gawked at her as if she had suddenly grown another head. Was she insane? Did she not know of their livid behaviour upon any deviation from a prescribed Code of Conduct?
"I'm afraid we don't fully comprehend your words Esme." Dad answered, thoughtfully aware of everything right now. My mind was shielded but hers wasn't.
"What she means is, Renesmee has earned the status of a typical 16 year old teen, the usual dramas, random outbursts and the cheeky teen personality." Aunt Rose thankfully intervened, putting a temporary pause in th conversation and avoid it from venturing in the classified danger zone.
"Has she been troublesome lately?" Leave it to Mom to search for an occasion to punish me. I suspected she enjoyed the same habit as Jane Volturi did, inflicting pain, sadism in terms of BDSM.
"Not at all Bella. Nessie is the perfect high school sweetheart." Aunt Alice vouched and I smiled appreciatively at her. At least some people were willing to defend my stupidities.
"Nessie?" For a moment, Mom looked bewildered before that feral aura that was purely vampire surrounded her as a halo and she went from befuddled to livid in less than a second.
"She takes after the Loch Ness Monster, a generous courtesy of her school friends." Uncle Jasper replied, working intently on her endorphin levels to keep her from losing temper. Nobody wanted a temperamental and antsy Bella on the first day of their return.
"The Loch Ness Monster?!" The audacity in her wind chime voice startled every single vampire and sure enough Jasper's gift was nowhere near of controlling her anymore.
"Geez Bella. Its just a name. Certainly fits your little monster." Emmett shrugged, winking at me. Dad glanced at me momentarily, silently demanding an explanation.
"My friends think that Renesmee is quite long and a bit mouthful. It doesn't fit the modern classrooms, hence the name Nessie." I explained. The modern classroom thing was just an added exaggeration I introduced on my own. None of them had said anything about Renesmee being outdated. Still for the sake of my own enjoyment and risk, I added it merely to testify Momma's anger.
"Renesmee is a beautiful name. And to disparage it as Nessie is derogatory by all standards. I named you Renesmee for a reason." I didn't know that the usage of the word disparage was still in existence. It had been a rather annoying habit of Mom's to use words from the 19th century novels.
Of course! Mom had to name me after her and Dad's mothers. I thought bitterly. Don't get me wrong. Renesmee was indeed a beautiful and unique name. But so was Nessie. I didn't see what was wrong with that. It suited me fine just the way Renesmee did. But who was I to argue with a superfluous furious vampire.
"No more addressing her Nessie. Either stick to Renesmee or May." Ah May! How long had it been since I heard that mediocre levelled monthly name? Now someone would please care to explain me what was singular or special in the latter.
"Now now, I don't think a fluffy name has enough worth fighting over. What possibly is wrong with that?" Grandma asked directly to Mom who was now in the calm aura of Dad's presence.
"Renesmee, honey how about I fix you some breakfast?" I followed Grandma, leaving behind a simpering Bella and over the edge Edward.
Heaving a sigh I settled on the breakfast bar. Would it always be like this? Disagreements and vindictive feuds? Could we ever be a normal family in harmony? The possibilities were less than slight. It wasn't possible for supernatural creatures to act civil for long and maintain composure. At some point, it was bound to waver and break. This was just the beginning of an aeon that awaited to be embarked upon with constant bickerings and thunderous quarrels. What I was scared for was my jeopardized relationship with Jake, who was now in the secret. The only thing left to dread upon was their unpredicatble repercussion following the revelation of my illegitimate bond with Jake.
Rest of the morning was spent in an air of awkward malaise. Up to a certain point Grandma was thrilled now that her potentially indestructible family had reconvened. To speak for rest of us, not so much. The day lousily morphed to a sunless afternoon which brought another round of vociferation in the living room. Actually, it was more of a let-the-adults-discuss-important-stuff thing where Mom, Dad, Rosalie and Jasper actively articulated their opinions on matters ranging from vampire politics to the mastered skill of stealth and furtive existence. I, along with Alice, hung back quietly, contemplating the trivial. Emmett got bored soon so he snuck out to hunting, graciously extending the invitation to Grandma, who having nothing better to do, tagged along with him.
With Grandpa's return in evening, everyone dispersed off to attend their own pursuits and businesses. It was Christmas Eve so there wasn't much to do in town. Everyone was occupied with celebrations except the almighty Cullens. It had a become a tradition of ours not to celebrate any festivities or holidays. No thanksgiving, no Christmases, no fourth of July, absolutely nothing excluding birthdays. Even Aunt Alice didn't bother finding any muse or pestering family for get-togethers. She had lost that spark, as she called since, well since the obvious happened. Translation : Since Mom acquired the status of a self-declared queen bee.
It was clearly evident through a rummage from all of the Cullens' memories that the family had lost its title, its claim of a family. Everything was divided and there was always a Cold war in the neutral territory to behold. I had often captured glimpses of their lives before Mom came along. They were all contented with the way they lived. There was absolutely no room for an eighth or a ninth wheel.
With my train of thoughts hurdling rapidly in all directions, dark of the night began to shade the sky and glow of the moon peek shyly behind the cloud cover. I cooked myself a pre-Christmas feast which had evolved to my tradition on Christmas Eve. Since no one had laid foundation stones on eating, I could still make the best use of my culinary skills.
The mates had long but retired to their sanctuaries calling it a night and an eerie silence had crept in. Thank heavens the rooms here were sound proof or else those funny noises would've haunted my dreams every single night I slept. I whole heartedly appreciated Grandma's efforts to cause me less inconvenience and tumult.
That night I didn't risk calling Jake and eventually drifted off to slumber with my glass doors open to let the forest chilled December breeze congeal my room. Surprisingly I had a dream free sleep.
The next day took flight as any other day in the Cullen domiciliary with no greetings or the festive spirit. Grandma fixed me breakfast as usual. My uncles wrestled on the X-box while Aunt Alice chattered on her bluetooth headset in Mandarin regarding stocks. Grandpa was at home today and Aunt Rose was idly flipping through Vogue magazines. Uncommonly Mom and Dad emerged from their den and spent the morning with us. Daddy entertained Momma playing her favorites on Piano while she was engrossed in her Shakespeare's sonnets.
Around twleve-ish there was a knock on the door and Grandma answered it while I was busy revising my lessons.
"Merry Christmas Mrs. Cullen." That soft, tinkering greeting was from Camilla as she hugged Grandma.
"Merry Christmas honey. Come inside." She ushered my witch friend inside and into the living room where I was seated.
"Hey Cam. Merry Christmas." I wished the human, no, the non-human in the house. She hugged me vehemently and I returned back with same vigour. It felt good to be embraced with emotion by a beloved one, even though you were unsure of their intentions.
"Mrs. Cullen I was wondering if I could steal you daughter for the day. Nessie told me you guys didn't have any plans and that you didn't celebrate holidays. So I was thinking I could show her a true gathering." Of course the only Christmas I had was when I was months old before the Volturi sensitive quality of hers warmed my heart. I had told her on a stray occasion how my family was anti-celebrationers. And she remembered it!
"Her name's not Nessie. Its Renesmee." Mom snapped for the umpteenth time appearing in the doorway. Camilla, however, didn't seem appeased or moved.
"Nessie is the name we gave her. Renesmee is just..." I quickly grabbed her hand and projected my message.
Please stick to Renesmee. She most certainly knew I knew what she was. And she was well aware I was a hybrid. What was the point in hiding anymore? More so, let a revolt break out between the two most stubborn beings I knew of.
Camilla neither flinched nor cringed at the contact or the deliverance of my message, neither at the foreign sensation. But thankfully obliged to my mute request.
"Allow me the pleasure to show Renesmee the glamour of Christmas." She spat, with so much of venom in her voice she looked vampire for a split second.
"But of course dearest should Renesmee desire that." Grandma smiled, passing me a wink and I quickly jumped at the opportunity to leave the well-guarded typical, vampire fashioned mansion.
"Don't bother changing your clothes Ness. I already have an outfit for you." And she dragged me to her Panamera, loudly accelerating before pulling out of the driveway. The drive was tense and uncomfortable in all outlooks. She pretended to concentrate on driving while I found interest in snow covered backgrounds. It seemed prolonged and tarrying with each pass of small cottages.
"Go ahead Ness." She started, indicating me to begin the moment of truth. I stared out front through the wind shield, with absolutely nothing coherent to talk of. The embers of our overdue showdown were beginning to weigh down my intellect and discernment. There was so much to be asked and so much to be told but I could voice my thoughts, an unknown paralyzing force had my tongue in knots.
"Cam I . . . . . I've really got nothing to say?" I offered. My reply came out more as a question and Camilla, well she looked shades of bewilderment. A small frown descended on her face as she pondered over something. The air hung heavy with unspoken words and unintelligible thoughts. As for me, I could not imagine her in cloaks of dark hues or with peculiar practices, assisting the Volturi in their every move or strategy as a matter of fact. The thought of the two together made me sick to my stomach.
"Strange. Demetri informed he had acquiesced you with the knowledge of our true identity."
"Is he going to be there? Demetri, I mean?" That caused her to appear shocked and look at me with a frown and I cowered under her gaze.
"No. He's already left for Volterra." She spoke after gaining her composure.
"I don't understand. How are you a . . . . . " Why couldn't I bring myself to say a simple word witch?
"I come from a strong lineage of London. It runs in my family. So is David. Its not like a gene as in your case but we truly have magic in our blood that enables us to perform paranormal activities. Like you guys have talents. We, on the other hand, are all talents of vampires accumulated in an embodiment."
"And your relations with the Volturi?" No more was the hesitance in the air and in our words. We were quite straight forward in what we spoke and I, for once, was happy to shed the pretense I had worn for so long.
"Ah . . . . . Thats more than the definition of complicated. Aro has the this undying hunger of despotic power that is impossible to quench. The wizards are far more valour and prowess than your kind. And to gain their loyalty, it sure is a boon and absolute power for them. I was forced to the orphanage at the age of eight. My family had succumbed their last breaths to the War and I was left alone. One of the authoritarian running the place was a vampire. He keenly noticed my constant isolation from other kids. Everyone came to believe I was a freak. Only he didn't.
"Our magic kicks into play only when we are exposed to treacherous and vile environment. Mine did when I was ten. They all observed how I could move things without touching them, how I could make a leaf reattach itself to the twig its fallen from, how I could exhibit a tyrannical control over the others, bend them."
"Sebastian, as others called him, took me to the Volturi seeking favour from Aro, only he got himself executed because he wouldn't grant Sebastian his wishes. Aro saw potential in me, he could forsee the benefit I'd yield him when I was of appropriate age. He sent out a word to England to wizards a certain raw talent had come in his possession. We are very much loyal to our species. Anyone outsider is treated as an intruder on our lands. Anxious, one of the family from southern London adopted me and began teaching me the basics, the spells and incantations.
"Of course thats where I met David. But he wasn't always like this. He was bully and always pulled tricks on me with few of the older wizards. My education took thirty years to complete by which time I had attained immortality True to their promise, the family returned me to Volterra and where my loyalty lied so did David's. I wasn't quite sure of his feelings back then. He followed my every step, all the way to Italy, somehow trying to make up for his insolence. I had no idea he'd fallen for me.
"Aro had no use of me back then but David and I spent sometime studying their foreign lifestyle. Of course, this was the time when our friendship with Demetri blossomed and we all became greatest comrades. For a few years we lived in the castle before deciding to explore continents and cities. Time's passed and here we find ourselves in Washington."
"You're not bound to live in castle's limits?" I couldn't help asking her. The had to be something in these two they were just allowed to leave.
"No. Aro's a diplomat not a fool. He could see in my thoughts how I wished to travel. Because in this alliance David and I call the shots. He knows how ineffective vampires are in contrast to the Wizards. They know we can bend their will and reduce them to pile of ashes with a mere flick of finger. But I'm bound to the Volturi because Aro was the one paying for my expenses in London. Had it not been for him, I would have perished along with the thousands in the epidemics."
"How extraordinary! The mighty Volturi are string puppets of High School sweethearts." She chuckled, rounding in the driveway to Jake's house where I was supposed to get ready.
"How long have you been allied with the Volturi? I mean, how old are you?" Curiosity got the better of me. For someone Aro had willingly lavished his resources should be quite a jewel, an ancient one.
"A little younger and much later after your grandfather left the Volturi." She threw me an exasperated glance at my voluntary gasp and I shied under her look. Red heated my cheek instantaneously.
"I'm sorry tats just so . . . . "
"Old?" She offered with a hint of smile. Her sharp features and vast knowledge of the modern world disallowed me to believe she was over centuries. Her skin didn't have that chalky pallor or antiquated planes. It was just so new and fresh like young leaves on a budding branch. Yep. It was hard to believe she was primitive.
I shook my head in disagreement and replied, "No. I was thinking more of well versed" She merely grinned and the tension that had taken root earlier had efficaciously evaporated and I was glad to have embraced my best friend.
"So little Miss Hybrid. Care to share that smile?" She asked as we went up the stairs to play a little make up and stuff. As soon as we were inside the room she shoved a knee length burgundy dress at me, pairing it with a pea coat and dark stockings and a pair of ankle boots.
"Ness. I want to smile like an idiot too. Tell me whats got that canyon sized grim plastered on your face."
"I'm so glad to learn my one and only girlfriend would be around always to hangout." She smiled briefly, pinning my hair to one side leaving a few tendrils. But that smile instantly wiped off to be replaced with a sour scowl.
"Whats wrong?"
"We'll be around always for each other. But what about the humans? They'll meet their demise to fragility. Even Jake." As much as I hated to admit that, it was an inevitable truth. Jake was human. He'd grow old. Unlike us, his youthful cheer would morph to expertise in adulthood and wrinkles in the old age. And we were helpless to change that.
"But he has other plans already." She efficiently pulled me out of my considerations.
"What plans?" My brow furrowed in befuddlement.
"He's going to ask for your consent to become a vampire."
"What?!" I shrieked jumping out of the chair.
"Demetri overheard him talking to your grandfather in Seattle. He wants to become a vampire."
Taking deep breaths I forced myself to calm down. Jake wanted to be like my family. So suddenly where did all of this come from? The idea could've been planted in his head by Demetri.
Well if he wasn't, then I had to rational about it. I would have to talk him out of his indecision. It would cause no more harm than good. React however he may want to, he won't become a vampire. Not under my watch.
A/N : Thanks for sparing your time and giving it a try.