"IS THERE MUCH ELSE YOU will need for the trip?" Adelaide carefully folded the last of Cordelia's shirts and placed it on top of her suitcase. Her hospital sheets and blankets had also been folded and put neatly upon the foot of the bed. "Valentine has arranged for a jet to meet us at the airport, so there won't be any turning back once we leave."

"I don't think so." Cordelia brushed her hair back and tied it up into a sleek white bun. "Other than the clothes and venom, I doubt I'll need much else during our stay."

"Perhaps not." Adelaide stepped behind her, cold body pressed to her back, and began gently combing away the stray hairs she had missed behind her ears. "Valentine has already given you half his fortune to start with. After he passes, you will inherit the rest, along with his memories."

"How much money has he amassed?" She closed her eyes and leaned back into Adelaide's surprisingly gentle fingers massaging her scalp. "I never thought to ask. It must be a lot, considering all of the progenitors before."

"I am not sure, but he is certain it will last you more than six centuries even if you spend it foolishly. However, the Cullens are not without their own funds to support you should you need it; their wealth is new and fresh."

"The Cullens... Have you told them I'll be coming?"

"No." Adelaide finished adjusting her hair and stepped away to pull out a scarf from her bag. She tied it over the bun and covered most of the pale locks from view. "They will know, regardless. They have a seer. It is pointless to make calls when they already know you are planning to come."

Cordelia frowned at herself in the mirror. In a quick movement, she turned around to face her protector. "What if they turn me away?"

"They won't," Adelaide replied vehemently. "I will make sure of it. To host the next progenitor upon her deathbed is an honor very few receive."

She turned back around and allowed the vampire to thread two small pearl earrings through her ears. "They're not going to... watch me as I'm dying, are they? I don't think I would be comfortable with that."

"Of course not," Adelaide promised gently. "It is your decision. It is tradition, certainly, but not all traditions have to be followed. The passing of Valentine unto you will not be observed; it is a sacred rite. The rest is your decision."

Cordelia nodded silently. She had known that much. Valentine had explained it to her the day he revealed what her purpose in life would be as the progenitor. The rites were precious and only known to few vampires in the world. Aro, the head of the Volturi, was one of them, having been honored to have a progenitor in his service before his untimely passing centuries ago. It had been some time since the Volturi had seen such power in their ranks afterwards. It was critical that she remain hidden until her transition was complete.

"All done," Adelaide said brightly. She patted her on the shoulders to gesture for her to stand, twirled her around to examine her outfit. "Very fitting for a progenitor. Modest. Are you certain you wish to cover up so heavily? It is quite humid in Seattle from what I hear."

"Yes." Cordelia buttoned her sweater the rest of the way. Like all of her wardrobe, she wore completely white from her head to her toes, mostly to compliment the pink-red of her eyes. "I still have bruises from the IVs and shunt. I don't want to tempt them any more than I am just by being there."

"Very well." Adelaide retrieved a phone from her pocket and handed it to her. It was sleek, black, and newer than anything she had ever owned before she had been put into Valentine's guardianship. "Here. It's one of the newest models. Valentine insisted. It has his number, mine, and Madame Deville's should you need it."

"Madame Deville?" Cordelia's mouth dropped open. It had been years since she had seen the French coven leader; the last she could recall seeing her was during her first visit to Paris before she had been admitted to the hospital. "I'm surprised she even owns a phone."

"I won't guarantee she will answer it." Adelaide shrugged and leaned down to pick up her suitcase. "Let's get going before the sun rises."

"Alright," Cordelia said, walking to the door and holding it open for her. "But can I get some grape juice before we leave? They won't let me have it in here."

Adelaide laughed. "Of course you would want grape juice and not something like chocolate."

"Is that an option too?"

"No, no sugar for you, Cor."

"Buzzkill."

"It's in the job description."

Alice finished the sketch in seconds. Peculiar eyes--red pink and not immortal--peered up at her from the piece of copy paper she had snatched up from the copier. Behind those eyes, peering down dangerously at something in front of the eyes owner, was the gaze of something ancient and old. Across from her, Renesmee--fully grown and chowing down on an apple--peered at the drawing.

"Who is that?" she inquired. "She doesn't look like anyone from our family."

Carlisle walked over from where he stood at the kitchen counter with Esme. He held a spatula in one hand as he twisted the paper to face him, eyes squinted in thought. "Hmm... Alice?"

"Hold on." Flipping the paper onto its back, she quickly sketched out another face that had shown itself to her almost randomly. An old face appeared in graphite upon the paper. "This... he keeps popping up. Everywhere. I can't help but see him."

"Valentine," Carlisle noted with faint surprise. "I wasn't aware he still walked the earth. If he is involved in these visions, then I can only assume this girl is to be the next progenitor."

"Progenitor?" Renesmee repeated. "I thought there wasn't a history for your creators."

"There is," Esme explained. She turned off the stove and walked over as silent as a cat. "But it is not widely known to most. It is kept that way out of old ways. The progenitor's gifts and memories are passed down to a human as they begin the transition."

"Which is extremely more complicated than, say, a normal bite," Carlisle sighed. "It is a long process that takes years. This girl has most likely been prepared for it her whole life through various methods."

"But why would she come here?" Alice questioned. "I can't find a concrete reason. Surely it's not anything awful..."

"Most likely not. But we can only wait and see."