I am so sorry for the delay. I decided to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. For those of you unfamiliar that's 50K words in a month, and you can only work on one project. Good news however if you like Star Wars, be sure to follow me for that!

That took up most of my creative time, but I am back now. We are close to wrapping up this story, I never planned for it to be a long one. It's actually longer than I originally planned already. The next chapter will probably be the last!

Anyways, enjoy!

He was handsome, as most vampires were in an old English proper way. A handmade orange scarf pulled around his pale neck, golden eyes staring back at her. Despite his charm, it became clear that Carlisle Cullen was not a coward. She'd been worried he would be, afraid of blood so much that he ran from it entirely.

It became vividly clear that he wasn't denying his entire nature because he was afraid. He was doing it, because he truly believed it was the right thing to do. A doctor for humans, a protector of the innocent. The kind of men as a human, she admired above all things. She'd have been smitten as a young girl, now she was left both respecting him and being absolutely gobsmacked by his control.

Aro's fascination made a lot more sense as the words flowed from Carlisle's mouth, perfectly positioned and timed. He was a excellent actor, even here he mimicked a human as if by reflex. His shoulders moved up and down in motion, his fingers twitched, hand coming to play with his scarf. Each blink was perfectly timed, each exhale of breath completely natural. It was a stunning display of dedication.

With the way she was gazing at the stranger, she could feeling Caius ready to start ripping people into pieces. As he began to shift to the edge of his throne, Wendy's eyes snapped over to her shifting mate. "Relax, Caius. Fascination does not mean I am going to throw myself into his arms." Her eyes shined. "I only have eyes for the two of you."

At this Aro just laughed, though they both knew he was budding with jealousy as well. The doctor too, also giving out a small chuckle of amusement at her statement; he certainly wasn't intimated by them, at least not anymore. Turning back to the two standing before them, she focused on the second. At attention, not mimicking a human. His eyes slid easily from vampire to vampire in the room gauging where they were at any given time. Perfect light curls reflecting the light from the room. His hands were loose as his sides, pose unconcerned despite his surroundings.

Yet she knew without needing to see, that he would undoubtedly block before a hit ever landed. She zoned in on Jasper's emotions: caution, loyalty, hunger, and possessiveness. Finally breaking the silence, Wendy spoke politely. "I've heard much about you, Carlisle and your family. As someone who has recently imbibed in what humanity offers, it amazes me that you all live the way you do."

She tilted her head curiosity evident, "I don't even sense the hunger inside of you. I have a feeling if a slit someone's wrist before you, you'd be more likely to begin to suture than you would to feed. A path, I don't see myself walking, but one I find remarkable regardless. How do you do it?"

It was a question he'd clearly been asked a hundred times, with the amusement that soared up and the small smile that spread across his face. His one word answer was wrought with humor, "Practice."

Wendy immediately fired back, "You've never fed from a human though, that's more than practice. As a newborn I would never have been able to resist. What you have, what you did is a gift. I wonder if you'd be willing to assist me with an idea that I had regarding thirst and newborns, helping to work on control as early as their first day to minimize risk and the need to kill our kind."

Carlisle, bless his heart, looked both surprised and pleased. "It would be a pleasure. I have already written on some of my thoughts regarding this. I'd be happy to present you a dissertation on the subject."

She gauged Jasper's reaction, a strong flare of possessiveness again. following by a sudden burst of curiosity. Smiling at it, Wendy folded her legs. "Do not hesitate to ask, Mr. Whitlock."

This time his reaction was harsher: surprise, fear, anger. His face didn't betray a single one, he didn't even twitch. "What makes you think that I want to ask something?"

At this Aro was the one that interrupted, clapping as the grin spread. "Our tesorina, has a gift quite similar to your own Jasper."

Reaching out she touched Aro's hand softly, sharing her thoughts. "He gives me too much credit. Your gifts are far superior to mine. I cannot change what you feel, I'm simply an observer." She immediately felt his relief. "Nor would I use it against anyone, if I did, unless absolutely necessary."

The rest of the conversation was made entirely of pleasantries. Aro and Carlisle doing most of the talking, discussing the hybrid child and Bella's adjustment in the vampire world. The Cullen's were the only polite coven they were meeting today, so they excused themselves early to settle in, only staying the night to be polite and then to attend a medical convention in Rome the next day.

All of the officiality had her exhausted, constantly worried about saying the right thing. Aro seemed to sense her mood. "We'll handle this next meeting, amore. Take Santiago with you for a walk through the gardens and come back when you're ready."

She gave them both a look of gratitude, before standing from her throne. "Jane, why don't you stay here." They all knew the next meeting was bound to end up violent. So the little blonde just nodded her consent and moved to stand with the rest of the guard against the wall.

Wendy exited through the side entrance, glancing over her shoulder with a smile. "How about a walk in the gardens, Demetri?"

Not responding verbally he just gave her an accepting nod and they were off. She bypassed her normal garden, walking further into the complex to visit a garden she'd only seen in passing. Demetri didn't say anything, so she took that as it was okay to do so. Pushing open the side door, she exited into a garden that was more wild than tame, wildflowers littering the ground with untrimmed bushed and trees.

It was like her own little forest, surrounded by three sides with other reaches of the building. "Is this one for anyone?" She asked, looking over at Demetri.

He shook his head, "No, it's just more of a wild garden for those who prefer that sort of thing. I think it was Jane's idea, she likes it out here."

Wendy nodded, smiling at the thought of her guard sitting out here with her brother among the flowers. It was likely that Jane wasn't going to be caught dead actually being seen, as it would no doubt paint her age in a telling light. It was a nice thought regardless. Demetri fell in by the door, allowing her a moment of reprieve as long as she remained in sight. They had this down to a science by now, and he knew when to give her space.

Cataloguing some of the flowers for pressing later, she wandered off further looking at a pale pink flowers gathered near the edge. From here she could see the way the walls opened up to paint a picture perfect view of the far off mountains, and logged it in her memories as something perhaps Caius would want to paint.

He normally painted people, but perhaps with her in the frame, he'd be more inclined. Her reclined naked even more so. She was sure he'd be fine with the bribery.

It happened fast, even for vampire standards. One moment she was looking toward the mountain ranges the next she was at a different angle. Head against the ground eyes sky bound, a flash of black and then there was nothing at all. Death did not feel like sleeping. if that even was what it was.

She'd not been prepared for the endless blackness that transpired when her head was separated from her body. The strange sensation, to feel her fingers yet not be able to move them, and to feel heavy and weightless all at the same time. She could not hear or speak. Wendy existed, nothing more and nothing less that that.

When feeling began to come back to her, she was no longer in the gardens. She was in a house, a regal dark schemed manor with arching doorways and crown molding. The walls a faint grey, wood floor boards old and recently stained a lighter color. Blinking she brought her focus to the most important part of the room.

Being around Aro and Caius made her familiar with old blood, it was in their skin and eyes. It was a constant stamp on their appearance. These two were different, with old features, ones that genetics might have long erased. Older then her mates, more simple and smaller. They were her size, yet bulkier and as all vampires uncharacteristically handsome regardless of it all.

These two she'd been told much about: Vladimir and Stefan. Whos mates had been feed to the flames before their eyes, who'd watched their whole coven burn, because Aro thought he could rule the world better. Two men, who had nothing left to lose but each other. The type of men she'd studied in college, been fascinated with.

Pearled ruby eyes and easy smiles as they watched her watch them. They didn't fly into action as she'd expected, instead waiting patiently like vultures for a corpse to finish dying so it could feast. It was Stefan who spoke first, the rolling tone of his accent evident in a way her mates wasn't. A people who had remained where they'd been planted, long old trees. "You'll be hungry, but you won't be feeding any time soon."

Focusing in on the silent blonde, she could feel his rolling emotions. An unstoppable force of anger and pain, a mourning so deep it went into his very soul. The same feeling she'd felt from Marcus, yet sharper. As if her friend had allowed the coma like state he went into ease it, where Vladimir had instead allowed it to make all of his decisions. A man who thought about the mate who'd been murdered every night, who used that pain to make his every motion.

Turning toward Stefan, his pain was similar, with more scorn than anger. A hint of disgust, but more than that fierce loyalty toward his friend. He was doing this for Vlad more than he was doing it for himself. She sighed, the exhale tickling her face. A volatile movement would be all it would take to kill her, the waring flames in their fireplace warning enough. A part of her couldn't blame then.

Aro and Caius would no doubt be the same way should her death come too soon. When she didn't immediately respond, they shared a look. "Are you a mute?" Vlad snarled. He didn't understand the irony in that question, nor the automatic laughter that drifted out of her because of it.

Shifting slowly, as to not spook them to a sitting position she looked at the two. "No, but I used to be." At this Vlad scoffed, as if her having and admitting to a weakness was unnatural.

Stefan however was more curious, "And being changed healed that?"

Wendy considered her response carefully, gauging a change in their emotions, only curiosity form Stefan, "No. It was up here," She pointed at her head. "I'd be more convinced that it was the mating bond that fixed it." There it was, the flash of uncertainty she needed to know if she had a chance to talk her way out of this one. "So what is it you plan to do to me?"

They shared a look at her direct question. Vladimir's anger burst forward like a flare on her instincts. Even as he stood still, she flinched back, arms raised defensively. This caught their attention, "You have a gift. What is it?"

It wasn't like she could do anything with it so she decided just to tell them, "I can sense what you're feeling." Surprise from both, most likely from answering their question so directly. Then of course, concern for their own emotion well beings. "I can't affect you, I just sense it."

Stefan spoke, "Why tell us at all?"

Wendy smiled at him, "Because I'm facing off against two vampires that have lived my lifetime hundreds of times over. I know when I can't win a fight. In cases of abduction, you're always supposed to placate your abductors. My knowledge comes from two years of community college, you've got me outmatched by a mile."

At that Vladimir smiled, something wicked behind it. "Yes we do."

"So I ask again, what do you plan to do to me?" She grew sad, head leaning back against the wall. "Do you plan to make them watch as you murder me, make them feel the same things you did before you dethrone them? Will I be fed in pieces into the fire, if you do please at least remove my head. I have not wronged you."

Stefan's guilt was palpable, he didn't want to harm her. All of his anger was focused directly on who he saw responsible, and a newborn woman was not one of them. Wendy didn't think that would be enough, really she didn't know what to do. On one hand, these men were threats to her mates, and for that alone they had to die. Yet, she understood why they were doing this, if she lost Aro or Caius, Wendy would never be so calm again.

Vlad however was filled with significantly more rage, and she realized perhaps it was because less time had passed since his mate was murdered. She'd made sure to become familiar with the past regarding their coven, she'd just not expected to have to need the information so soon. "That isn't for you to know."

She swallowed her growing frustration. "Did you leave Demetri alive? My guard."

Vlad's smile grew wide, mocking. "I ripped him into pieces."

She didn't let her sorrow grow, instead focusing on Stefan, meeting his eyes. "Will he put himself back together?"

Stefan's eyes softened seeing her deep seated concern. She'd made the right choice by changing her gaze. "He will." At the truth Vlad scoffed and shoved his friend, giving him a look.

"Thank you." She exclaimed. "If you kill me, you'll be slaughtered. If I escape you will be slaughtered, but if you let me go I will do everything I can to make sure that my mates leave you be."

Vlad stood up like he was going to rush her. "You cannot barter with us! Your fate is sealed. I do not care if I get wiped from this earth as long as I live long enough to see the look on Caius's face when he knows he cannot save you, when Aro's mind tricks do nothing to stop the inevitable. You are going to die, no amount of talking will change that."

Finally she shifted to her feet. "If I am to die, then I will do so here, not before my Mates. I will not allow you the satisfaction of watching those I love suffer. I cannot change what happened to you, and I'm sorry because I know what grief does to someone. Killing me does nothing, it changes nothing. Their deaths, my own, yours, none of it changes anything other than the fact we stop living."

She took a step forward, head held high. "I will leap into the fire, before I let you hold me in the blaze before them. They are not perfect men, but they are mine." Wendy spread her arms, in a movement she had seen Caius do when angry and challenging. "I am offering you a way out. Create a coven, move on with your lives as long as you leave the Volturi alone and follow the rules for secrecy. No one else can offer this to you."

Surveying their emotions she could feel, Vladimir's fast growing frustration and Stefan's embering regret. Stefan caved, "We would be free to go wherever we please?"

She nodded carefully, monitoring Vladimir closely for any change. As soon as Stefan finished speaking Vlad snapped, swirling toward him. "We are not taking her offer! I would-"

Wendy took it and ran, holding on to that tiny head start to push through the door like it wasn't even there, bolting across the large lawn unconcerned about the bright sunlight of the day. Being spotted would just have to be a risk, she could hear them after her Vladimir letting out several choice words that would have once left her feeling appalled. There was a city ahead, and perhaps she could get out of sight there.

The blonde man was faster, cutting in front of her with a snarl as his arms snapped out to grab her. He didn't hesitate going for her head to immobilize her, only for what little training she had to kick in, allowing Wendy the half second needed to duck under the grab. Stefan approached from behind, and she knew she didn't have long. Pushing to at least give them a fight another figure entered the fray, long dark strands as he moved like a soldier.

Her protector shoved both men back, crouching low like a shield. She'd never seen Marcus look so focused, so in the moment than he did in that moment. He didn't look back at her, but she felt the calm love he felt, swirling there along with the acceptance. He knew he was going to die. "Go." He stated calmly to her, before addressing the Romanian's directly. "You want to blame someone, start with those responsible."

Wendy did as he commanded, rushing from the scene, but didn't make it far before she heard the cruel flick of the lighter. She tried to tell herself that he'd come out here to die anyway. Yet, he was still gone and that lose still struck keenly. It still stung even knowing that it was going to happen.

She hadn't wanted to be present for Marcus's execution. A cold rolling anger took over her as she dodged through the alleys of the city. Wendy didn't think, following her instincts as closely as she could. So tunnel versioned she didn't see the arm until it clothes-lined her. Despite the pressure on her chest, she was calm. The fear rushed out of her like a wave of breath.

Turning to catch the golden eyes of Jasper she nodded, stilling. His voice was low and fast, "I offered to help find you." She had a feeling, he was worried what would happen if she were not found. Worried about what would happen to his coven if her mates were to go mad. An understanding government made less so by their grief, and a coven that she knew Caius saw as a threat. He'd made the right choice, by helping.

Wendy nodded, "You look like a man with a plan." Jasper's lips pulled up on one side as he listened.

"Always." He peeked around the corner. "It'll be faster to run. Can you make it?" It was his polite was of saying she probably looked like Hell warmed over. It wasn't good on a vampire to lose their head.

She glanced at him, looked into his amber eyes and sent expression of apology before taking two steps to the left, lighting fast and pulling a young man into the alley with her. Before he'd even realized, he'd been grabbed, Wendy had already snapped his neck; the crack reverberating through the space as she dug her teeth into his neck. With each long gulp she felt stronger, more herself.

Jasper's emotions were chaotic: understanding, disgust, jealousy, hunger. Slinging the corpse over her shoulder she nodded to him again and they were running. A mile into the forest she dropped the body down a valley, before racing after him. "Where are the others?" She asked.

"All over the country, we set up a meeting zone a few towns over." They rushed, Wendy following close behind Jasper. She was glad to have someone with her, that actually had experience with this kind of thing. Match that with the fact that the Major had a reputation of being unbeatable helped ease her fear.

"You make it sound like I've been gone awhile." She teased.

Jasper looked over at her, dodging a tree, "You have."

Wendy had to focus on running when she wanted to stop and demand an explanation. "How long?"

He looked at her in pity, "A little over a year now." She wanted to cry, she'd been gone longer than she'd even known her mates. They had to be besides themselves with worry. She was struck then by another thought, Marcus had been alive that whole time. The horror spread through her at then fact maybe he'd decided to start a new life for himself and never got the chance.

"Marcus?" She asked quietly, "Was he helping you look?" Wendy preyed the answer was yes, that that was the only reason for his waiting and not another unknown tragedy.

"No one has seen him, why?"

Wendy could see the town coming up, smooth grey stones and the slightest scent of Jane. "He sacrificed himself so I could get away." She didn't want to talk anymore, falling into the usual silence that had cloaked her life so completely. He left her to her thoughts as they entered the city, ducking behind corners and through alleyways to get to a normal looking house on the side of the street.

The moment they were through the door a small bundle of honey blond collided into her chest, hands wrapping around her. Jane. Wendy sighed, returning the embrace with a coo in the back of her throat. "I'm okay." The hug lasted another long breath before Jane pulled away, immediately composing herself, as if it had never happened.

"It's good to see you, mistress." She stated, glaring at the soft laugh that Felix let out. They were the only ones there, just the four around the room. Wendy despite being unable to sleep felt weary, moving to sit down.

"I want to go home." She whispered, struggling to find her voice again. Jane dropped into the seat beside her, shoulders close to touching.

"We'll get you home." She stated, "The Masters will be so happy to see you well."

Reviews are unexpected, but always appreciated!