Chapter 48- Answers

We didn't go as far as I thought we would have to go. The next city to my knowledge that I knew was north from Al Wajh was Duba, but we stopped long before. I looked down from the top of the dune, a city so enchanting that it almost appeared to be a mirage. A large circle of cliff surrounded it almost as if they were providing a natural wall around the city, except by definition the population would consider it more of a village than a city.

The white sand and tan rocks slanted inwards forming a natural basin at the entrance. The northern point of the city, inhabited a large crystal blue oasis. The palm trees surrounding it created almost a crescent shape following the curves of the water. There were stones surrounding the water all the way around, and as they got closer to the northern point of the spring the rocks grew larger and stacked higher and higher coming to a forty foot peak where the water flowed back down and stirred underneath. It reminded me of an aqua therapy fountain. Things like this I had only seen in pictures. Less than a mile east of this natural Shangri-la sat several homes that looked a lot like the villa in Cairo except these homes were only one level. They were perfect squares that sat in clusters of four all over the city with cobblestone streets meeting the spaces in-between.. I counted them as I scanned over the city. Twenty, all painted in different pale shades of blues, greens, and tans. There was a single large harvesting area in the southern corner of the city. Perfect rows of date and fig trees shifted into several other crops from melons, nuts, to saffron.

I saw several other buildings in different places throughout the fifty foot walls surrounding everything but the building that caught my eye was the white stone house that resembled a palace except on a more modest scale. It was only two stories high but the pathway leading up to it had several statues from Egyptian culture.

"Oh my goodness." I gasped walking down the steep trail towards the gate that got larger and larger the closer I got to it.

"It's almost like Al-Hayat" Asima gasped finally unfreezing at the peak and shuffling quickly to catch up to Sami, matching his stride when she reached him.

"The homes have changed to blend more with the times here, but the basic layout is the same. The spring facing the north and the palace to the west. From what I am told it's one-hundredth of the original size and a little farther north, but it's home enough for us." We reached the fifty foot doors and he pushed them open effortlessly, "Welcome to Jannah."

Seth and Jacob's faces matched each others, cautious yet amazed. Asima's was being taken down memory lane, gasping as we passed different sculptures and buildings. The brims of her eyes held more moisture as each wave of nostalgia hit her.

The citizens bustled around the streets a few nodding to Sami and giving the rest of us curious looks. The market was set up almost like the one we saw in Al Wajh except for size of course. I had never seen such a small place thriving on its own, mostly hidden and unaffected by the happenings outside the walls.

"How often do you get others passing through?" Jacob asked looking at a shopkeeper talking to a customer. Her language changed from English to Arabic whispers as we passed so even he could tell that we were the topic of conversation.

"Not often." Sami smiled waving at them pulling the knot holding the scarf around his waste tighter. The women looked away flushed going back into the shop. "Most people stick to the road when they travel to Duba, wandering in the desert isn't the smartest idea." He smiled looking at me.

I gave him a timid smile back changing the subject from my renegade mission. "So how long has Jannah been here exactly?"

For as long as I can remember." He answered quickly. "When my father returned from his search for Princess Asima, coming back empty handed he told the townspeople to rebuild. They found this place and thought it was perfect.

"You're almost as old as Asima." I stated flatly taking it in.

Asima eyed him curiously her eyes making a hard line. "What was your father's name?"

"Kadir, ma'am. He led the rest of the survivors alongside my mother Nadia, until he died. When Rami and I reached our transitioning years we got the same fever that my sister Kalila got before she was able to turn."

"So that's how it passed on…" I thought to myself aloud.

"Kalila was your sister…" Asima thought, her hard eyes softened. "She was a good fighter, strong, and you're father was a good man." She smiled putting her hand on his shoulder.

He was taken aback. "I wasn't aware that you knew my father. He wasn't a Vizier, nobleman, or court member, but only a fisherman. Not someone that would have been in your circles."

Asima smiled understanding what he meant, "I may have met him once or twice, but when I did he was generous beyond belief. Leaving behind a lasting impression of which I am sure you understand."

I eyed her wondering where she would have met this man. Sami continued letting it go, "Yes ma'am I do, and I thank you." He started to bow but they immediately stopped bringing himself up right.

"So you, you're brother and Jabril share the duty of governing the city?" She asked brushing her hand gently against the branches of a date tree.

"Yes ma'am. Well Jabril is our leader, Sami and I have taken on the roll of princes so to speak." He explained stopping to pick a date from the tree. I watched him take a small nibble and make a slight face before tossing the date on the ground next to the tree. He stepped back on the cobblestone street leading us father up stopping only to talk to a man picking figs from another tree.

"The dates need another week Bashir. The figs look wonderful though." He rested a hand on his shoulder his kind blue eyes alight smiling at the middle aged man.

"Yes sir." He answered smiling back, his voice holding a heavier Middle Eastern accent.

"So this Jabril, he's the king?" Seth asked as he joined us back on the street.

"No, he's a prince as well. He's more of our chosen leader; his family was placed higher on the pyramid of power, from what my father told me."

Asima squinted in deep thought again. "So you're all princes, no queen, and no king? That's not normal."

"You're right that's not. Jabril sees it as keeping the three of us on the same level. This is why we chose him as our leader. Him losing all of his family brought a sense of compassion and honesty to his leadership role."

"So why aren't you guys aging?" Jacob asked in a slightly accusatory tone.

Sami kept his tone polite, "We won't age until we aren't needed anymore. There aren't enough of us to never be needed. It's a catch twenty-two." He cut his blue eyes at me catching me nudging Jacob with my elbow and smiled.

"You're mind is full of questions Sami." Asima sighed, probably bombarded in her mind.

"You can hear my thoughts? I'm not in my animal form." His brow wrinkling.

He jumped slightly and Asima laughed. She must have said something in his mind. "I didn't mean to startle you; I have a few more abilities that you don't know about. I will explain all when I speak to your brother and leader." She promised.

Sami nodded opening the large palace doors.

"Brother," a voice called from down the hall. "You go out to face the threat in the south and you come back with four Americans in a skirt." He smiled. He looked exactly like Sami except for a small freckle under his right eye. His eyes were a vibrant blue that naturally mesmerized me. I was starting to think that all leopards must have this effect. I immediately felt sorry for the men that caught the jade rays of Asima's eyes.

"I'm sorry brother, you won't believe what happened. I went to the border just like I said but I ran into these two…" He gestured to Seth and me, "And then these two showed up too." He motioned to Asima and Jacob.

Rami stared at me curiously taking in my scent. His skin flushed slightly. "Brother, you brought a vampire into Jannah?" He accused shaking as if he were about to phase.

Asima and Sami stepped between us immediately. "Both of them are vampires Rami." Sami explained putting his arms on his brother's shoulders trying to help hold him together.

Sami spoke through clenched teeth. "When Jabril finds out…"

"It isn't as it appears. Look carefully, it's her, Asima." The way Sami spoke her name made it seem like he'd been awaiting a long lost savior and had finally found her.

Rami stared at Asima's face, from her bronzed skin to her emerald colored eyes. "No." He gasped in disbelief.

"Yes brother it is her." He guaranteed.

Rami said something quickly in Arabic under his breath and dropped to his knees at her feet. "My queen, I apologize, I didn't think that¾" Asima was about to say something but it as Sami that cut him off.

"She doesn't like it when you bow to her." He rushed grabbing his arm and helping pull him up.

Jacob gagged rolling his eyes and I nudged him again, harder this time.

"As you wish ma'am." He nodded standing up. He eyed her again. "Of course she is one of us. That explains how I can see her glow. What brings you back after all these years? Are you planning on leading the city? How did vampire poison feel? Where have you been for thirteen hundred years? Who are the companions you're traveling with?

I'm sorry it's rude of me. I am Rami, one of the protectors of Jannah."

"I'm Renesmee." I greeted smiling.

Seth extended his hand, "I'm Seth, this is Jacob."

"They can transfigure, but they're wolves." Sami added as if he were passing along something more fascinating than what they already knew.

Rami eyed his brother quickly, before putting them back on the boys. "Really? Are their others? How long have you been able to do it? I would love to compare our abilities and see how we differ¾" He paused when Asima's face drew into a slight frown and smoothed out. "I'm sorry. It's just so fascinating."

"I understand, but we shall get there in time, I would like to wait until the other prince is among us too." Asima explained.

"Oh, Jabril of course!" He reminded remembered smacking his forehead and turning on his heels walking down the long hall. "Follow me, he's in the garden." He said disappearing down the long hall around what had to have been a corner.

"His excitement get's the best of him, but he means well. I'm going to get changed, and join you shortly. Don't worry he grows on you." He promised before disappearing upstairs.

We walked down the hall passing several tapestries holding calligraphy and other ancient Egyptian markers of history, mixed in with things from current times as well.

Asima stopped at a large glass case that reached from the top and bottom of the wall and stretched about eight feet across.

"What is it Asima?" Seth asked turning back towards her.

I looked harder recognizing it. It was a panel carved from limestone, I could tell by the incomplete markings around it that it had been chiseled out of the original wall it was attached too. The carving was meant to be of the Sun God Aten, the twelve inch circle extended seven rays of light across the carved picture. The first touched the crown of the king's head the second a queen. The rest touched the head of five small children ordered from tallest to shortest behind the queen. They were all placing an offering up towards the heavens under their feet were several different engraved symbols that looked a lot like the cartouche I held around my neck.

"This was engraved in the wall of my palace. This is a piece from my palace." She choked out. "That's me." Her fingers ran across the glass where the royal family was engraved stopping at the small girl holding up a basket. Seth put an arm around her and whispered consoling words in her ear.

"Who knew Asima would be this missed." Jacob thought to himself. I nudged him again. "Stop doing that." He groaned as we continued walking down the long hall finally seeing where Rami turned off. "I'm just saying, it's a little weird."

"No it's not weird." I argued turning the corner. I was expecting to turn down another hallway but we were rushed with brightness of the outdoors. I didn't recall walking through a door. I gaped in awe at the well tended garden of sunflowers, iris and deep lavender that hit my nose.

Jami greeted us at the archway, "Don't be shy come on out, he's in here." He waved us out.

A wide eyed Seth looked around as I took Jacob's hand. He thought I was afraid but in actually I was mentally preparing myself to be in awe when I met the next leopard prince.

Even though his back was turned I could already tell the difference between him and the other two brothers. His skin was the same rich bronze as the others, but the other boys were the same height as me. Short for men yet still muscular. This man was tall in comparison, at little over six feet.

"Jabril this is Asima, thee Asima. She is traveling with Jacob, Seth and Renesmee." Rami introduced quietly.

Jabril turned and once again I was in awe. His eyes weren't blue like the others, but a rich brown that matched the color of henna. His black hair was cut short to his head. He had perfectly trimmed facial hair, a moustache, and thin line of sideburns that connected into a slight goatee accenting his chiseled jaw.

His eyes were kind when he gazed upon us, "Welcome to Jennah." His deep voice welcomed, but his eyes grew alight when he caught eyes with Asima.

It was strange because Asima wasn't taken aback by Sami and Rami in the slightest but her face was locked onto Jabril's with a deep intensity. Like he was the most beautiful person on the planet. Asima's breathing got uneven as the dams of moisture in her eyes threatened to spill over.

"Are you alright Asima?" Seth asked feeling anxious. He didn't like that he was holding her gaze for so long or likewise.

Yet Asima didn't hear Seth, she didn't see Seth, I was sure at that moment that she couldn't see anything else in our beautiful surrounding, only him. I didn't understand it, but I felt my eyes become slightly moist and I quickly wiped it away.

"Asima…" Jacob called slightly louder trying to get her attention.

"Jabril?" Rami called yet got the same affect that we got with Asima.

She walked up to him slowly her hand outreached, she put her hand on his limp arm resting at his side and he melted dropping to his knees on the ground. His eyes teared up running down his cheeks still in silence and Asima squatted low enough so that their forehead's were touching. She wiped his cheeks and I could hear soft sobs, but I couldn't tell which person it was coming from.

Jabril wrapped his arms around Asima's waste hugging her tight and she took his head in between her hands gently planting kisses on his cheeks and forehead.

We all watched in silence with strong emotions, too bewildered to look away, yet the moment seemed so private. Not that they seemed to notice us staring anyway.

"It's okay." Asima wept in a small whisper that was barely audible and he nodded burying his head in her arms. She rubbed his hair still planting small kisses on the crown of his head.

"Tough break Seth." Jacob sighed.

Seth's face carried, heart broken, jealous, and confused expressions all at one. Yet he too couldn't help but wipe a tear from their embrace.

I patted his shoulder. "It doesn't feel that way Seth."

Asima and Jabril still didn't notice us, still to lost to notice the outside.

"I'm sorry…it's just… you're here." Jabril sobbed helping him from his knees.

He towered over her by over a foot but they somehow managed to not stop embracing. They started speaking in another language, still with tear filled eyes they were smiling.

"What are they saying?" Jacob asked curious, wanting to know what was going on.

I listened carefully not catching anything. "It sounds like… Coptic."

"Coptic?" Seth questioned breaking from his trance.

"The language of the Egyptians before Islamic rule. It is extinct, no one speaks it anymore." I caught Jacob's look and amended, "Well unless you lived during that time of course."

" She's saying, 'You look so much like him…'and he's saying 'I can't believe you're here. I never thought I would see the day.'" Jami explained wiping his eyes.

"Look like who?" Jacob asked a tad bit of irritation dipping into his confusion.

"Like my brother Azeem," Asima explained taking her hand and wiping her eyes another time. "He's my bother's son."

"You have a nephew?" I asked in disbelief. "I thought all of your family died.

"Well I didn't know he existed anymore than you did." She smiled.

"My mother was the daughter of a tomb digger, unable to be together of course. My mother escaped the town, not knowing that she was carrying me. She came back and helped in the rebuilding of our civilization telling only a few people how close I was to the royal family."

"What did I miss?" Sami asked entering the garden in a fresh pair of green linen pants. His wavy hair pulled back off his shoulders. He eyed Jabril curiously, probably taking note of his glowing mood.

"Jabril is Asima's nephew!" Rami burst before anyone could answer.

Sami smiled looking unsurprised. "I figured he was of some relation. Father always said that he was destined to be a king." He shrugged , "I was referring to the story. Why is she here? The wolves, and Renesmee." He eyed me primarily as he spoke. "What were you before you were infected?"

I was mildly offended, but kept it hidden. I understood that most people only viewed vampires one way, not having the privilege of knowing anyone like my family. I would have been shocked if he didn't feel the same. "I was never infected by anyone. I was born this way. My father is a vampire, therefore part vampire."

Jabril and Rami's mouths dropped, I smiled and Rami snapped his shut to speak. "Vampires can't have children." At least his contradiction was kind.

"Yes they can. Males can, at least with human females. My mother gave birth to me human, it nearly killed her, she had to be turned immediately so, here I am." Even though I spoke as if it were no big deal, the story fascinated Jabril and the others.

"So why were you and Seth out in our dessert preparing to attack Sami?" Jabril asked trying to get the story.

"Oh, that was a misunderstanding." I smiled feeling guilty. "We were in Egypt searching for any traces of leopard life. We had no luck at all even though we trekked over every surface of Egypt. I had suggested to Asima that we search father east but she rejected it saying that there was no evidence to lead us any farther and we should go home. I however, decided to run off and search alone anyway." Asima and Jacob rolled their eyes letting me know that I still wasn't forgiven.

"Seth and I searched Al Wajh and found nothing. We were heading back over the gulf when I spotted Sami, but he spoke a different type of Arabic so I could barely keep up, I got confused. Then Seth stepped in not liking the situation and I noticed that Sami's skin started turning flushed. He wasn't expecting me to know what he was, it scared him." I stopped there from Jacob's expression. I shouldn't have been that close to either of them phasing.

"It could have happened to anyone. But then Seth phased to protect me¾"

"He what?" Jabril asked looking to Asima and then twins.

Asima's voice was patient as she clarified, "Phase. It's what the wolves call their transfigurations."

"Oh. Alright. Continue please." He requested

"This story will take all day." I sighed taking another step closer to him.

Careful Ness… Asima warned, I ignored her.

"Here." I said placing my hand gently on his neck. He froze as I replayed the entire story through my eyes in his head.

"How did you do that?" He asked puzzled.

"Vampires, well some of them anyway, carry special abilities." Jabril was still staring at me with amazement. I felt my face blushing, "My gift is nothing compared to my family and Asima.

"May I see?" Rami asked apprehensive. I touched his face and his skin flustered warming my fingers. I pulled away when I noticed it was getting warmer, I didn't know how under control they were.

"You have this ability?" Rami asked Asima.

"Among a few others, it's a long tale. It will take a century to fully explain." She sighed not wanting to get started.

"Well that we have." he smiled at her.

He then turned his attention to me, his warm sienna eyes locked onto my face causing me to blush again. "All because of you." He walked closer giving me a hug so fierce that I was slightly picked up from the ground. I momentarily panicked as his skin flushed hotter, but the feeling was gone as quickly as it had came. "Thank you for making this possible."

"I didn't do anything extraordinary, just my normal tenacity." I smiled, my toes searching for the ground.

He picked up on that sitting me back on my feet. "Well all the same, I am forever in your debt."

I smiled at Asima. I'll leave that up to you.

She gave a subtle nod putting a hand on his back. "We have a lot to talk about."

"Yes, so it seems." I heard a slight crack of thunder in the distance. "It will be raining soon. We should head inside"

"Asima, cant you just¾" Jacob started but Asima shot him a look and he stopped taking the hint. "Yea maybe we should.

Jabril lead us to what looked like a dining room. The large round table was only two feet from the ground and large pillows were in the place of seats. "Come sit," he motioned slidig onto a pillow. Sami and Rami sat on both sides of him, Jacob and I filled in on his right with Asima and Seth on his left.

"Let us talk. Start from the beginning please." He requested gently.

"Well…" She started trying to choose he words carefully. " I wish that I could have came to you in a more peaceful circumstance. I want nothing more to catch up on the thirteen-hundred years of lost time, but it as it turns out, I am already pressed for it." Her expression was apologetic even in her smile.

"What do you mean?" Sami asked.

"Right now I am in a fight for my existence along with my friends…."

They all listened carefully as she took them over everything that had happened involving the Volturi starting with when my family was in Forks, including her recruitment of the wolves and the other vampires, her absorption of talents, her troubles with Alistair, the close call while hunting, leading up to Egypt.

She compared Aro to her father in certain points and used a few terms that even thought I couldn't understand I knew she was helping them to.

Rami and Sami's faces never changed from wide eyed with open mouths. Like they were hearing and watching the most exciting 'edge of your seat' thriller of all time. Jabril listened intently, occasionally rubbing his goatee.

When she finished no one spoke. Asima filled the silence again. "… I know that what I am asking of is a great sacrifice on your parts, going against everything that you, that we stood for. But I don't have anyone else."

Jabril's eyebrows drew tight together. "You are asking us…to go to America…and fight along side vampires… to save them from tyrannical vampires?"

Asima squinted into a guilty frown nodding.

"Trust me, I know it's hard to gather but, my family isn't bad I promise." I rushed in not liking the tone worried about the verdict.

"America… fighting…" Rami started his expression matching Jabrils.

"We're in." Sami and Rami said in unison.

I smiled and Seth let out a quick breath of relief.

"This isn't a sparing match. This side has more advantages than numbers alone." Asima added her tone more serious.

"Are you trying to get them to go or stay Asima, because I can't tell." Jacob laughed.

"Just to understand the severity." She defended.

"I'll be going too. I couldn't bare to send the only family I have left away without me knowing if she'll be back. You won't be lost to me again." Jabril promised.

"Thank you." She smirked delighted, a sparkle in the emeralds that were her oculus, so bright that I had never seen before.

"Thank me after we win." He winked. "We will need a few hours to prepare the city for our departure, we can leave tomorrow evening after you have rested from you're journey."

"That's more than acceptable."

Seth and Jacob spent the rainless evening swimming in the oasis as Rami and Sami spent their time making preparations.

Asima and I spent the evening with Jabril. I listened to the stories of Asima's several lives through out her existence with the same excitement as he did, having never heard them before. I called my anxiously awaiting parents to tell them the good news. After thirty minutes of being reprimanded and my apologizing I think it was safe to say that I won't be going abroad without them anymore. I didn't care it was worth it. I was finally able to contribute, nothing was better than the feeling I had now.

"Jacob you can sleep in this room, Renesmee across the hall, Asima, you and your husband can have the room at the end of the hall. My room is¾" Jabril stopped confused as to why Jacob was holding his stomach boiling over in laughter and Asima's face was wide and red.

"What, what is it?" He asked looking at my face. I was biting my lip holding back a giggle. "What is funny?"

"Seth and Asima aren't married." I smiled, a small giggle slipping through.

"We aren't even together." Asima said taking it another step.

Seth suddenly was very interested in the vase on the table in the hall, not taking his eyes off of it. Holding back a smile of his own, except his looked a little more controlled. Like he liked the thought.

"Oh, my apologies." His eyes cut from Asima to Seth over and over. "I would have sworn…she's traced him and everything. My mistake." He said shaking his head. "Renesmee and Asima, do you mind taking the large bedroom and Seth taking the one that was for Renesmee?"

Seth was no longer distracted, "Traced? What's that?"

"I have never heard of it." Asima thought looking towards Jabril.

Jacob stopped laughing as he spoke. "We leopards are constantly linked to each other in a way. They each have a slight glow around them, when we focus on it we can find each other over a great distance as long as we are familiar. When we find our perfect mate we trace them in our glow, sharing that ability with them as well, as you have done with Seth here." He squinted looking at the air around Seth's body.

I squinted looking for something and quickly gave up. Seth's face flashed into a smile, Asima squinted looking at Seth, "Why don't I see anything?' She frowned giving up too.

"You haven't been around us long enough to become familiar with our glows, or your own for that matter. It will come give it another day or so."

"That explains why you are linked to Seth farther than anyone else." I pointed out. Jabril raised his eyebrows nodding.

Asima looked harder, "This tracing thing, has it happened before? How come I have never heard of it?"

"It's not common but it happens. It happened to my father and mother, even though their romance was a short lived one. And to Sami and his wife Hirut."

"What happened to Hirut?" Asima asked never remembering seeing a wife or hearing a mention of one.

"That's a story for him to tell. We will speak more in the morning, get some rest my friends." He answered walking away. From Asima's face she already knew what happened to Hirut.

We walked to the bedroom at the end of the hall Asima stopping to glance once at Seth's door before shutting hers.

"I traced Seth? What do you think that means with Phillip?" Asima asked staring up at the ceiling. It was four in the morning and she was still rambling in deep thought.

"I don't know," I yawned exhausted. "I'm sure that Jabril can answer you tomorrow. Get some sleep." I suggested.

"Yeah, maybe…" she yawned herself "Good night."

The first class flight back to London went by quicker than the journey to Cairo, most likely because there was so much to catch the leopards up on.

Jacob and Seth were talking to Sami about the difference between the shape shifters. Asima was talking to Jabril about the tracing. She saw the thin glow around Jabril just before out departure and she became ecstatic, happy that she didn't lose all of her shape shifting ways.

I was taking Rami through the talents of my family and friends. He was catching on pretty fast, for the most part, "Wait so, Carlisle is the leader, and your father, Edward can read minds, but Asima helped teach him to see the future?"

"No," I smiled showing him the diagram I drew on a dinner napkin. "Alice can see the future, Edward can read minds, and say things in your mind."

He nodded in understanding. "And Jasper can control the weather." he stated confidently.

"No, no, look Jasper can control emotions, Benjamin can control the weather."

"But Benjamin isn't a part of your family, he's not in the circle." He pointed wrinkling his nose.

"Yes but look, he's here. He's a friend, he was there the first time the Volturi came."

"I think I got it." He sighed taking it all in smiling. "Anything else I should know?" He asked looking at the complicated diagram of names and lines that seemed to confuse me the more he stared at it.

"Oh yes, Stefan and Vladimir, the ancients, don't ask them why they look different, unless you want to hear creepy stories." I laughed

"Noted, can I see them so I am prepared?" He asked.

I touched his face showing them the images of the brothers. "Whoa…."

I laughed at the face he made as we headed back to Lebanon, New Hampshire with a new feeling of hope.