See? I keep my promises ;) Hope you continue to enjoy!- Liona
Marie had arrived less than an hour ago, and had already informed most of our family that not only was she a vampire hybrid, but she's Aro's daughter. How and why the actual fucking hell would Aro of all people decide to have a child with a human? Did he fall in love? I was certain Carlisle had mentioned he had a wife!
We decided to invite Marie into the house. The rest of the family: Carlisle, Esme Ness, Jacob, Leah and Nelly, had all finally arrived after we called and let them know about Marie, which is good because having the rest of us awkwardly starring at Marie while she quietly smiled at us in a way that creepily resembled her father was getting kind of disturbing.
"Marie?" Carlisle started once everyone was present and caught up. "When you say you are Aro's daughter, do you mean he.. adopted you or.." Carlisle seemed to be having trouble wrapping his head around the whole scenario, he's not alone!
"He is my biological father." Marie answered. "My creation was actually inspired by all of you."
"Anyone else feeling a bit uncomfortable?" Emmett whispered, but it's not like anyone here couldn't hear him. I noticed Michel and Jacob both shaking their head's yes.
"I was actually named Marie after Bella Cullen's middle name. My father has told me an impressive amount about you considering he's never been able to access your mind."
"Thank you?" Mom looked incredibly uncomfortable, and Dad instinctively put an arm around her shoulder to comfort her.
I looked over at Nessie and Nelly, Ness seemed weirded out as she stared at Marie, but Nelly's expression remained very calm. I think she could feel my eyes on her, and Nelly turned to meet my gaze.
"She's good." Nelly said a bit out of no where.
"Excuse me?" Maire asked Nelly.
"Oh, sorry." Nelly said, "Edward, you can see inside her mind, so you can see what I mean can't you?"
"I'm not so sure I believe that Nelly after what I've seen from her thoughts." Dad answered.
Oh wait, Nelly's talent. She's never had the opportunity to use it on anyone from the Volturi, although I'm sure none of their souls would be any lighter than charcoal.
"Edward, I've never been wrong, even as a human, Marie is very good." Nelly gave Marie a kind look, but Marie seemed highly confused.
"Nelly has a gift. She's able to look at someone and tell if they are good or bad." Nessie tried to explain.
"I like to think of it more like I'm reading your soul, and from what I see when I look at you you're definitely on the good soul list." Nelly said happily.
For the first time Marie seemed to smile genuinely, and she almost looked like a a normal young girl. "Thank you." She said in a low tone.
I felt kind of bad for Marie now. I'm sure her life hasn't been easy with the Volturi, maybe that's why she came here?
I looked over at my Dad to try and get an idea of what he was seeing in her thoughts, but all of a sudden he was standing and running at vampire speed towards the window. Emmett and Jasper stood just as fast and ran over towards him.
"We've got more company." Emmett said with a slight growl.
I stood along with Michel and looked out the window only to see several dark hooded figures standing about 50 yards from our house.
"They're here for me. I figured they wouldn't be far behind once they found out I went on my first unsupervised outing." Marie stood and walked towards the door.
"This was a bit more than an outing." Michel mumbled.
"Marie, wait. You don't have to go back with them if you don't want to." Esme sounded just as sweet and motherly as always, but I'm not certain if what she's suggesting is such a wise idea.
"Esme, trust me, she's not in any kind of danger with them." Dad tried to reason, but Esme gave him a saddened look. I can't even imagine what life with he Volturi must be like, especially as a child, it makes me even more grateful for how our family raised Ness and me.
"I appreciate your concern Esme, but rest assured you have no reason to be worried." Marie walked towards the door, and it only took a quick look and half a second before my family was all in agreement to follow her out.
We all walked close behind Marie, and within a few moments I felt my heart about to beat out of my chest as I met the blood red eyes of the Volturi's 4 favorite guards, Jane, Alec, Demitri, and Felix. I clenched my teeth and tried to keep my breathing calm. I felt I tight grip on my hand and looked up into Michel's eyes. I gave him a quick smile as a thank you before turning my attention back to the hooded figures.
"Marie, your father requests your presence back in Volterra." Jane looks a bit younger than Ness and me now, but I know very well just how terrifying she can be from my family's stories.
"I have no doubt. You all should have known there was no reason to escort me back. I was planning on returning once I was satisfied with my visit with the Cullen Clan." The way Marie spoke seemed more like they were the ones in some kind of trouble.
I looked over at my Dad to try and get some sort of clue as to what was going threw the Volturi member's heads, but when I saw my Dad's familiar smirk cross his face, I couldn't help but give him a confused look.
I turned my attention back to Jane, who seemed to be forcing herself to smile at Marie, "Understood, and if you are done it is best we return you home as soon as possi-"
"Please don't try to tell me what you believe is best for me, Jane. I know what is best for myself far more than you ever could." Marie said.
I felt a slight laugh escape my mouth as I saw the annoyed look on Jane's face. I quickly put a hand over my mouth but I still couldn't help myself.
"And what might be so funny?" Felix said angrily. I felt myself take an unwilling step back. "We don't need feedback from a vegetarian abomination like-" I didn't get to hear the rest of Felix's insult towards me, because all of a sudden he was motionless on the ground. The other 3 guards took a step back and looked at Marie in.. fear?
I looked at Maire, and she turned to me for a moment before looking back at Felix, "Felix, you will do well to remember not to insult people who I find favorable. It wouldn't be the first time I've torn a guard into bits and pieces, and for far less. I assure you if I hear another insulting word from your tongue I'll have you bite it off and burn it."
Felix suddenly stood back up, he didn't say a word, and silently stood there while starring down at Marie.
"Understand?" Marie asked.
"...Understood." Felix said begrudgingly. He looked back at me, and I felt Michel's grip tighten, "My apologies."
"N-no worries." It took everything I had to keep my mouth from falling open, or to start laughing again, but I managed to keep silent.
Marie turned around and gave my family and I all a sweet look, "Thank you again for a delightful visit. Hopefully next time it can go uninterrupted."
"Please come back any time you like." My dad said with a slight smile. The moment they leave I hope Dad can tell us what just happened.
"Until next time then." Marie turned on her heel and started walking towards the 4 guards and then past them. The 4 all gave us quick almost angered looks before they followed behind the small girl and disappeared.
Once we were sure Marie and the guards were a good distance, our whole family turned their attention towards Dad.
"Dad?" I asked.
"Yes Son?" Dad seemed to be trying not to laugh like I had earlier.
"You want to fill us in on what just happened?"
"There is nothing I would love more."
We all returned back to the house and then Dad finally told us all what he had learned from Marie and the Volturi's thoughts, and oh my God I don't think this could possibly be any better.
Apparently, Aro had decided a few years ago that it was far too risky to try and interfere with our family or take any of us away, and he wanted to try and create his own child in hopes of making the Volturi stronger. Aro "created" Marie with a human women, and he accomplished his goal in creating a powerful child, but what he didn't count on was just how powerful she would become. Marie inherited an ability to manipulate anything and anyone around her, It's kind of similar to Leo's ability to control a person's thought's and body, but on a much deeper level. Marie's no where near fully grown and she can already tear a a grown vampire apart without even touching them, and apparently she's already killed several lesser members of the Volturi. Dad said from what he saw in Jane, Alec, Felix, and Demitri's minds, the entire Volturi, especially Aro, is terrified of her. They fear that once she reaches adulthood she'll have enough power to tear down the entire city of Volterra in the blink of an eye.
"Then wouldn't they have been happy about her wanting to leave?" Nessie asked.
"You know Aro values power above all else." Carlisle explained, "And he probably feels it's a better idea for Marie to be where they can at least keep an eye on her."
"Basically they want to stay on her good side and have no say in the matter of how." Jacob said with a large smirk.
"Essentially." Carlisle said.
"So what you're saying is.." Emmett started, "The Volturi, feared rulers of the vampire world, are basically under the control of a small 'half human' little girl?"
"That sounds about right." I said.
Emmett put a hand over his mouth and started laughing, "How-h-how the hell could this possibly get any better?!"
It didn't take long before we were all joining in on the laughs.
"Did you see the look on Jane's face?" Alice leaned on Jasper, who seemed to be trying his best not to go too out of character with his own laughter.
"Well I guess we don't have to worry too much about the Volturi anytime soon." I said.
"Might have to worry for them though." Ness nearly rolled off the couch, but Jacob caught her.
I know it's wrong to laugh at someone else's misery, but in this case, I don't think anyone would blame us. Besides, I think Marie is going to become a pretty good friend and ally in the future, as long as we stay on her good side.
"Alight, now that all that's over, EJ, Michel?" Alice stood and pointed back towards the room where Michel and I had been working on the invitations.
I rolled my eyes and fell back into Michel's lap. I wonder if it's too late to catch up with Marie and the guards?
"Come on, my Fawn. Let's get this over with." Michel stood and helped me to my feet.
"This whole thing better be worth it." I grumbled but also smirked at my mate.
"I'll make sure it is." Michel gave me his usual devilish look as we returned to our task at hand. This man better understand how much I love him, and that even with all my complaining I can't wait until our wedding.
Well next time you see my name on this site it will be the beginning of the end to this amazingly fun project of mine. My goal for, "An EJ Cullen Series: Finale" was to have it out either before or at the beginning of June, and that still seems to be as planned, but no one quote me. Thank you all so much for reading this fic and any others I've posted, and until next time!- Liona