fire 37

I was completely confused by his behavior. So I decided not to entirely trust him. Our people's reputation for shall we say shifting loyalties was well earned.

I did however eat the food after determining it was from a deli I recognized. I downed the food but left the glass of wine alone. I needed to keep a clear head.

Since I had no idea what my status was here.

After a few hours or at least I thought it was a few hours. I had a visitor. It was a tall slender woman with bark like skin.

She had huge green eyes in a triangle shaped face. She bowed her head in my direction.

"Milady I am healer Ashanti, my lord asked me to work on your leg" she said

I nodded yes and the woman sat in the small chair next to the bed. It was like watching a tree sit at a child's table watching her sit there.

She spread out one of her hands and I noticed the fingers resembled sticks. Her appearance gave away what she was of course.

"I didn't know the clans had a healer" I said

She smiled as she drew the blanket back from my leg. It was mottled black and blue . I had a slight scar down the top of my thigh.

It gave mute testimony that a healer had already seen me once.

"I just completed my apprenticeship with the singing river clan" she said

I smiled at her and remained perfectly still as she touched me. I relaxed into her touch.

It felt like having warm sticks touch your skin but then again most dryads felt that way. She closed her huge eyes and I studied her.

She was really quite lovely for her species. Long moss like hair tumbled down her back.

It was braided in some spots with hair ties that looked like leaves holding the braids in place. Her clothing was simple and functional consisting of a toga like dress.

Her feet were most likely bare but I couldn't risk moving to look.

So instead I watched her work.

"Most people turn away" she said

I chuckled darkly.

'I'm not most people" I said

She nodded and continued working. Her hands were engulfed in a pale green light. It vaguely resembled fire and I had to control the urge to flinch away from it.

I felt the bones move under my skin but oddly felt no pain .There was only a slight pinching feeling.

I watched my skin ripple as the bones were set back together. I knew it would probably take her awhile with as many pieces as Jame's had made of my bones.

I was pretty sure they resembled a jig jaw puzzle. She looked like she was straining and I knew she would probably have to rebuild some of the more badly damaged pieces.

She stopped after a few minutes and I offered a glass of water from my pitcher. She gratefully took a few sips then went back to work. After a few hours she stopped.

"I must give those time to cure, I will be back in two days you are not to leave this bed at all" she said

I swallowed suddenly worried about how I would pee.

"I will make arrangement for your relief" she said

I nodded in her direction and sighed.

"Remember no moving" she said

I nodded and sat back in the bed. I spent the rest of the night sleeping and the next day reading.

The servant girl was given the unfortunate task of helping me use the bathroom and fetching books for me.

Turns out her name was Elizabeth and she had been here since 1305.

Which ironically made her older than Carlisle. I knew the underground slowed the natural aging process for humans but that was ridiculous.

I was appalled that she had been here that long but I dare not say anything against her. Who knew how Monty would react to that.

He could have her killed or worse thrown outside to let age retake her.

I remember reading a tale one time about a man who had stayed overnight in the realms for a party and when he left the next day.

A hundred or so years had passed above and he aged to death before he left the mountain. I used to shudder at that tale.

Worried my half mortal heritage would condemn me to age in such a manner.

Edward and his family were a literal god send. With him I would stay forever young as soon as he changed me.

Of course I had a bad feeling he would be stubborn about that. I would have to really work at him to get what I wanted.

I had no problem with that.

In many ways Edward was the perfect man for me. One he would insure my human heritage didn't doom me to a short life.

Two he couldn't possibly get me pregnant which meant the taint to my bloodline ended with me.

I sighed in relief and skipped the next chapter in the book I was reading.

I could care less what she felt giving birth it was something I never wanted to feel anyways.

Edward would probably argue that it was one human experience I would regret not being able to have. I knew I wouldn't at all.

Honestly I didn't like children. They were noisy, messy and much too needy. Yuck I so could do without that experience.

It wasn't that I was vain and wanted to retain my figure. It was just that I had no maternal instinct. None of our people did that was why we fostered them outside of the court.

Human mothers were all too willing to care for a child even one that wasn't theirs. Just look at Esme she was a vampire and she was still trying to mother me.

I shook my head and read the next chapter. Hell even Renee stopped trying to mother me when I knocked her on her ass and yelled that I could do it myself at age four.

Of course dislike wasn't the only reason but it was most of it. The other was because of a royal decree. You see our queen wasn't partial to humans at all.

In fact she had slaughtered whole villages when she was younger just for stepping on a fairy ring.

No she would not be very forgiving if I brought more human blood into her line. Monticello had barely escaped with his life.

It was only the fact that he was her only heir that halted his destruction. I shuddered if Monticello was afraid of her then she definitely would scare me.

I knew for a fact her reputation was well earned. I've seen her justice first hand and it still gave me nightmares.

There was no way I was going to let her kill Charlie and Renee. Or everyone else on both sides of the family.

I had nieces and nephew who were still in preschool. Thus the practice of abstinence I clung to.

If guys wanted to think they could just wed me and get some they were sadly mistaken. Whoa betide any of them dumb enough to try and take it.

I would personally cut them off and make them eat them first. I was actually quite happy that Edward kept it to kissing but I was still sexually frustrated by it as well.

I shuddered again when I read the part where the grandmother catches the wife with another lover and stabs her to death.

My end wouldn't be so merciful if I was foolish enough to make a simple teenage mistake. Not only would I pay for my indiscretions but everyone I knew would as well.

Knowing Queen Inais she would wipe forks off the map. Then go wherever Renee and Phil were and do the same there.

A macabre image of a deserted looking Forks with bodies in the street filled my mind and I set the book down. I closed my eyes.

I tried to drive those images out with images of Edward and the rest of the Cullens.

Oddly when I reached Jasper and Carlisle in my mind I calmed down. Until I remembered he had seen me die and was probably going through hell right now.

I sighed and picked up a different book. This one was a tame romance novel. I chuckled at the thought of Monty having a bodice ripper in his library.

Carlisle pov

We rode the elevator in silence. Edward was braced between my two sons. We were afraid he would do something stupidly rash.

So regrettably this was necessary. The elevator doors slid open and we exited the car as a group. The car next to us dinged then opened and the women stepped out.

I nodded at Esme and we walked towards Renee's room. I hesitated at first and Esme knocked for me. I was nervous and part of me was scared that she was only delusional.

I wanted so badly for her not to be though. I needed her to be right or else I would never be able to look my son in the eye again.

"It wasn't your fault" said Edward

I shook my head and Renee chose that minute to open the door.

"Come in" she said

We filed in. She looked out the door once before closing it and locking it. I walked into the suite and sat down on one of the chairs.

My family took positions around me. She was staring at us with an unreadable expression on her face. She suddenly nodded as if coming to a conclusion.

"First of all I need to ask what are your intentions with my daughter?" said Renee

She leveled her gaze at a very shocked Edward.

"Does it matter now?" he said

His whole form slumped forward like he had been deflated.

"Yes it does more than ever" said Renee

Her eyes held such an edge of pain and an odd sort of strength. That Edward was completely shocked by her demeanor.

"She promised she wouldn't tell" said Edward

He narrowed his eyes and watched Renee warily.

"If your referring to your species I knew the second I saw you and no she didn't tell me" Said Renee.

She received shocked looks from every vampire in the room. Oddly it was Esme who composed herself first.

"How?" said Esme

Renee turned to look at her and they stared at each other for a few minutes. Either they were weighing each others intentions or sizing each other up in case a fight broke out.

Renee broke her gaze first.

"Lets just say neither I nor my daughter are without knowledge of a variety of supernatural entities" she said

Edward was staring at her with a frown on his face. He looked at Carlisle and quickly mouthed. I can't read her either at vampire speed.

When Edward turned back he was met with a grinning Renee. She chuckled at the shocked look on his face.

"Mind reader?" said Renee

Edward nodded slowly yes. His eyes were wide like saucers because he was completely shocked. Renee chuckled again and turned towards Carlisle.

"Which of you is the coven leader?" she asked

Carlisle's mouth dropped open in shock.

"How did you.. never mind.. that would be I" said Carlisle

Renee smiled at him

"But we prefer the term family" said Esme

Renee nodded in acknowledgment.

"What about Bella?" said Emmett

Rose hissed at him and elbowed his ribs.

"What about my daughter?" said Renee

Emmett grinned and Carlisle gave Emmett a warning look. Emmett however didn't get that memo or made a paper airplane out of it.

"It's just you seem to be cool with this whole thing despite the fact your daughter's missing not to mention dating a vampire" said Emmett

Rose growled at him and Edward glared. Carlisle looked like he was plotting damage control and Esme was also glaring at Emmett.

Renee however didn't seem worried by his bluntness.

"Well I will admit the vampire thing was a bit of a shock but I can see her reasoning behind it" said Renee

Edward still looked confused by her answer.

"You mean it doesn't bother you at all that she's in constant danger just being with me?" said Edward

Carlisle glared at him and started to open his mouth to protest Edwards words. Renee just smirked.

"Sweetheart she's been in danger since birth and she's always pulled through have some faith honey" said Renee

She patted his shoulder an then squeezed it gently.

"As to her being kidnapped I know exactly where she is and I assure you she's in the best possible hands" said Renee

Carlisle was watching the woman walk towards them after she had attempted to console their son.

"I'm sorry how can you say that when she was dead on the table at least twice" said Carlisle

His voice hitched and Esme threaded her hand into his. The worry evident on her features. She looked up at Renee. In a look of mute appeal.

Renee nodded and kneel-ed in front of Carlisle she took his hand in hers.

" Dr. Cullen" she said

"Carlisle, please" he said

She nodded at his absentminded correction.

"Carlisle, you did your best but I'm afraid you were handicapped by a lack of knowledge" said Renee.

Carlisle frowned obviously lost by her statement.

"It's not your fault her body reacted that way and if you had known I doubt they would have listened to you, they didn't listen to me and I'm her mother" said Renee

Carlisle grudgingly agreed and met Renee's eyes.

"Then what did cause it?" he said

Renee smiled again. She sighed again and looked at the floor. She didn't look up for several minutes and didn't release Carlisle's hand.

"My daughter has what you would call a unique heritage" said Renee

Carlisle frowned at her.

"She walks between to worlds and bears the traits of both" said Renee

Again a blank look met her gaze. Renee groaned.

"Look I can't just come out and say it. She has to do that and honestly I'm sure she would prefer a deeper commitment first" said Renee

"Like sex?" said Emmett

"Emmett!" said Esme

Rose glared at him and he actually looked suitably chagrined for once.

"What I can say is this she has a kind of allergy if you will to certain kinds of metal" said Renee

Carlisle was still frowning and now everyone was looking at him in anticipation.

"What metals and what kind of reaction?" said Carlisle

"Well I can't say what there called from a medical standpoint because I'm not a doctor, you are" said Renee

"I can tell you what her symptoms are so it can be avoided" said Renee

Carlisle nodded yes for her to continue.

"The metal is iron or anything containing it in huge quantities like stainless steel" said Renee

She met Carlisle's eyes and there were several sharp intakes of breaths around the room.

"It causes burns when it touches her skin, nausea, elevated heart rate, dizziness, black outs and heart failure. If she ingests it or remains in contact with it for too long" said Renee

Carlisle's mouth dropped open in shock before he regained his composure.

"So it was the pins then?" said Edward

Carlisle turned to look at him. Edward was lost in thought for a few minutes.

"So those bruises and burns were from what?" said Edward

"Her I.V. most likely" said Alice

She was frowning and she periodically shook her head. As if trying to clear an image from her head.

The blond man next to her was holding her close. He looked completely tense though.

"Oh the poor dear" said Esme.

Carlisle was looking at the floor

"Where is she Renee?" said Carlisle

"She's with her father" said Renee

Everyone frowned at her.

"Charlie's in Forks" said Emmett

"No silly not Charlie he's only her stepfather her real father, Monticello" said Renee.