Chapter 36: Gathering Forces

[Ramont Nafarro's POV]

He calls Elijah and asks in Basque for him to bring the Charter to his meeting with the Strix. Elijah readily agrees in kind. He sets up the meeting in an abandoned white board church in the backwoods. He called for the meeting to be in a very private location, which no one would think to scry upon.

Elijah meets him in the one room church, they nod to one another. The rest of the members enter the room also.

"We are gathered to discuss the actions of a traitor and upcoming events we all need to be prepared for. Elijah has brought the charter," Ramont informs the rest of the Strix.

Aya enters the room slamming the doors open, "I invoke the rite of Ludum Regale. Just as she finishes issuing her challenge, she throws an Ancient White Oak stake through the air. Elijah shifts out of the way. He flashes behind her and makes two movements with his hand. Her body falls to the floor heartless. Elijah looks around the room with her heart in his hand. Does anyone else want to invoke the rite also?" No one in the room moves.

Elijah drops the heart into a plastic lined garbage can and wipes off his hands with a white handkerchief, tossing it in also. He then picks up the stake Aya threw at him, and pockets it.

Ramont states, "The traitor has been eliminated."

Elijah looks at Ramont, "Let us get this meeting underway then, there is a lot of information we need to cover and plans to make."

At the end of the meeting Elijah announces. "Ramont Nafarro, according to the rules of the Charter I appoint you as the new leader of the Strix." He looks around at the assembled group: "Any challengers?"

All of the others assembled, shake their heads no.

[Charlie's POV]

I call the Clearwater home, "Can I speak to Sue?"

I hear the phone being passed over, "This is Sue."

"I really need to talk to you. Do you have a place we can speak privately?"

"Give me a minute." I hear her back door open and her walking away from the house. "Ok Charlie what is this about?"

"There is a very evil spirit that has been brought to life after being banished. It is amassing an army of supernaturals. I wonder if any of the Quileute would be willing to help fight it."

"The Spirits have already shown us what has been raised from the Earth. The council has selected Jacob, Seth, Leah and Colin to help fight it off and they are waiting for instructions about where they are going."

"There are four tickets waiting for them at the Seattle airport. They will be landing in Richmond VA. There will be a car their waiting for them and the driver will have Clearwater as the name placard." Angela nods at me as she confirms the tickets.

[Isa's POV]

I never thought I would be calling one of the Cullen's ever again. "This is Dr. Cullen, how can I help you?"

"Carlisle, this is Bella. I am asking you to listen to some news that will affect us all. An evil being called the Hollow has been magically raised from spiritual banishment. She is amassing an army of supernatural beings to make war against all the other supernaturals in existence. This battle will have consequences for all supernatural species. I am asking you as a healer to join with us to defeat the Hollow. Your skills would be invaluable."

"Bella, we are already aware of the threat from the Hollow. The Volturi are sending several of us to help with the battle."

"Please pass along this phone number that I am calling you from. Someone will be monitoring it twenty four seven until the Hollow is defeated. It is a number to help coordinate activities and gather needed supplies. Thank you Carlisle, please tell Esme and the family hello for me also."

"I will pass the message along. Goodbye Bella." He hangs up.

[Damon's POV]

I pick up my phone to dial Jasper Whitlock. I am distracted by a banging on the front door. I will have something to say if anyone wakes the babies up. Angela just got them down for a nap.

I open the door ready to tear into whoever is on the other side. There standing on the doorstep is Peter, Charlotte and Jasper Whitlock. "Took you long enough," Peter barges past me into the house. Jasper grins at me, "Aren't you going to invite us in?"

"Come in. You and Charlotte are welcome. I really need to throw that other heathen out."

Peter calls back from the living room, "I'd like to see you try."

I walk up behind him and slap him on the back of his head. "Quiet moron, there are babies sleeping in the house."

Charlotte's eyes light up, "babies?"

"Isa had her triplets. The family is on the phones trying to recruit folks to help us fight the Hollow."

"Can I see them?" I lead her to the door of the nursery, "you can peek in but please don't wake them."

She looks around the door and coos softly, "they are adorable."

"Isa or Elijah will show them off later around supper time. Let me show you to your rooms."

He is grateful that most of the Mikaelson's relocated to the mansion. Rebekah is staying with Stefan in his room. They are an official couple now. With her help he seems to have found the right feeding method to avoid the ripper tendencies he has. But that part of him might be a 'good' thing for the upcoming battle.

[Caroline's POV]

I am heading up to the nursery to check on the triplets. It's almost time for their diaper change. I hear crying babies, but to my surprise I hear Damon's voice over their caterwauling. "It's alright." His voice is soft. "Uncle Damon has this in the bag, well almost." I peek around the corner of the threshold. Damon is lining up his supplies for the job. On the dresser next to the changing table, he has what looks like four pair of surgical gloves, a mask he has on a scrub top to pull over his street clothes, two garbage bags and a large container of wet wipes. I have to record this. I pull out my cell phone and press the app to video record.

All three of the babies are protesting with wailing cries. After donning his diaper changing gear, Damon picks up Helena and coos to her, "Here we go little lady. You will be dry in just a minute." He places her down on the changing table. He pulls up two diapers and lays them open one on top of the other. Muttering to himself; "just in case." To the crying boys he states, "Remember ladies first. All Southern gentlemen know this rule."

Helena calms down at the sound. He opens the dirty diaper, and smiles at her. "You are just wet; you will be dry in a minute." He wipes her down with a wet wipe front to back, tosses it into the diaper pale. He places her on the clean diaper and making sure it's the right direction. Does up the tabs and sticks her back into a clean onesie. "There little lady, you are all dry." She coos back at him. His smile could light a room. He gently places her back in her crib. The boys hearing him taking care of their sister toned their cries down.

He picks up little Henri, "Oh boy, you are not on solid food yet. You are stinky. He takes off the dirty diaper, tosses it into the pail. He talks softly to the babies as he changes them. Taking hold of Henri's little legs he cleans him up front to back making sure he has two clean diapers, one under the little behind and one in front to keep from getting sprayed. After diapering and changing Henri, he puts him back in the cradle next to his sister. He picks up Arvi and repeats the process. After tossing the residuals into the appropriate containers he starts to take off his protection layer scrub top. Caroline stops the video and vamps to another room. She sends a copy of the video to the girls, with a note not to show anyone else. Damon has his dignity. Angela texts back, "That's my man," with a smiley Emoji.

[Stefan's POV]

The women in the family are treating Damon differently. If they are gathered around with the babies, they don't hesitate to pass them to him if his arms are empty. Rebekah was in the kitchen with the rest of the crew holding Arvi; she had to take something out of the oven. She placed the baby in Damon's arms and pulled the baked Cannelloni al Forno out of the oven. Placed in on the counter top to cool and plucked Arvi back out of his arms, no one missed a beat in the conversation. If this had been any male other than Arvi's father, they would have been watching him like a museum curator watches someone hold a one of a kind ancient artifact. What changed?

[Niklaus POV]

The Alphas of the werewolf packs have met and agreed to send fighters to New Orleans to fight against the Hollow. Their legends have foretold the rise of the Hollow. I have agreed to supply them with supplies, Vervain, Wolfsbane and weapons. I gave them the coordinating phone numbers for the upcoming battle.

[Freya's POV]

Bonnie and I have contacted the New Orleans witches and several other covens about the Hollow. They are sending representatives to New Orleans also. We have booked several hotel rooms and holding them open for them. The New Orleans witches are gathering power and supplies for the upcoming battle. We hired scribes well versed in magic to create pages of protections spells that will be helpful to the witches participating in this endeavor. Davina Clair is overseeing this project.

[Marcel Gerard's POV]

The New Orleans vampires and others are coming into the city to fight against the Hollow. Niklaus has made an agreement with some of the witch covens to make daylight rings for those vampires that are committed to fighting the Hollow. After this is over I will have more day walkers to deal with.

I met with the leaders of the 'human' community and informed them there is a dangerous gas leak and gave them the coordinates to cordon off the major areas of the bayou where the supernaturals will be fighting. Two of the state highways will be affected. The governor offered for the state troopers to keep traffic out of that area and he will activate the National Guard if needed. They thank me for the information. After the battle there will be an explosion as a cover up.

[Niklaus POV]

Stefan points out that all of the women in the family trust Damon with the babies. I am really uncomfortable around babies. Hayley is due any day and Caroline is expecting. I have no clue how to take care of babies. The women in this family and this generation of women expect their men to be baby fluent. Damon has been accepted as a caregiver. I would rather ask him questions than Elijah. He would help but he can be a little too smug at times. I wait for Damon to pass through the Foyer.

"Damon, can I have a word?"

He looks at me with his head slightly tilted and one eyebrow raised; "What can I do for you?"

I sigh. This is not easy to ask; "Damon how do you manage to be so comfortable around the babies?"

He nods, "Just a sec." He pulls out his phone, taps a couple of times and my phone chirps. "I just sent you my useful links on YouTube they are very informative. There is a list of books to read too. Good luck Nik." He continues on his way.

I know the man is crafty and resourceful. I never considered YouTube to be a go to source for baby information. How did he manage to find reliable sources there?

[Marcus Volturi's POV]

I have talked with the Guard about the upcoming conflict between the supernatural factions and asked for volunteers. Demetri, Heidi, Juan Fernandez, Lung Chi and five members of the lower guard come forward as volunteers. The Original family provides phone numbers for information about the upcoming battle and an offer of any field supplies we might need. I phone one of the numbers and accept their offer and give the names of our volunteers to Angela Salvatore.

[Hayley Marshal-Kenner's POV]

Hope is bouncing on my bladder. Jackson, Ansel and the other Alpha's are in a pow-wow about the upcoming battle with the rest of the supernaturals. I feel like I am benched. I know I am due within the next couple of weeks. But I have a brain and can make useful suggestions. I admit to being cranky but you would too if you can't be comfortable enough to get enough sleep. Ok, I have been a royal bitch lately.

I fiddle with the necklace that Jackson gave me yesterday. He told me that it is a charm that will keep harmful witch magic away from me. It has some kind of markings that I have never seen before. If it will keep Hope safe, I'll wear it.

[Alice Cullen's POV]

I see that we are going to New Orleans. Our family has agreed to fight something called the Hollow. Carlisle, Elazar and Marcus conferred on a conference call yesterday. We are gathering supplies and making arrangements to fly to New Orleans tomorrow. When I try to see any decisions regarding Bella, I get a migraine for my effort. I know she had something to do with Tanya and Edward getting together. What the hell was she thinking? Edward is Bella's mate and would have had a perfect little girl. Bella would have named her Renesmee after their two mothers. I will get the chance to ask her while we are in New Orleans.