Sorry for delay. My son turns 2 January 8th. TOMORROW! Got busy planning that.
The only thing that kept Isabel from peeing herself in fear was Alice's hand in hers.
"Is it over?"
Alice looked around themselves, frowning into the black space. "It should be… there's nothing here."
"Is this where I wake up?"
That confused frown became disturbed. "You're not waking up…"
"What?"
"Edward's trying to wake you up… You're not responding." She grabbed Isabel's face, locking their eyes. "Focus. Do you feel anything?"
"O-only you."
"Do you hear anything? Sense anything?"
"No! No I-" she stopped, for she did hear something. Now. Distant. Like soft footfalls down a long hallway.
Her eyes looked up.
It was a long hallway, finally discernable against the black, like pupils adjusting in a dark room without even a candle to lend a flicker. The chill of the rock walls pricked at Isabel's skin, memories of falling into icy water being pulled to the front of her mind.
She shivered.
Deep within the dark halls there was an echo, muffled and low, a garble of moans that Isabel strained to hear. The light footsteps, the soft click of heels, drew closer and Alice gasped, jerking back.
A chorus of distorted whispers filtered in
Don't Don't Don't Don't…
He will find you...
He will find you…
He will find you…
"Edward knows this place."
Isabel turned away from the whispers coming from the hall to look at Alice who for the first time was cowering away. "He does?"
"This is the vision," she gasped, "the vision the elder showed him…"
At that moment a chilling scream was heard and Isabel lurched toward the sound but Alice grabbed her first. "No! We're done here! You need to wake up!"
"Alice, we need to know-"
The background whispers suddenly snarled.
He's here! He's here! He's here!
Don't move! Don't move! Don't move!
Both girls stilled, obeying the command that was being chanted in their ear. Down the long hallway the footsteps stopped before a dark figure stepped around the corner.
And then, above the whispers, came a voice Isabel did not expect to hear again.
"Don't move."
Serena.
Despite the command, Isabel swiveled around, looking for her great grandma, but saw nothing. She wasn't here. Alice, too, looked astounded, her eyes trying to find the source of the voice while the figure down the hall still hadn't moved.
"Don't move," her irate voice ordered, locking the two girls in place. "He'll see you..."
Isabel wanted to ask who but she didn't need to.
Because the figure took a step toward them.
Stefan.
He drifted closer, slowly, and though they still couldn't see his face in the dark, Isabel knew it was him.
She could feel...
And Serena's voice became alarmed. "You can feel him…?"
Isabel blinked. At that moment something glinted directly in front of her, like a spider web caught in the light, barely noticeable. It came and went and she had to squint to catch it again, the spider web sprouting from her chest and out down the hall where the figure paused again. And cocked it's head.
"You shouldn't be here."
Alice snapped around again, started by the new voice. It wasn't Serena.
It was Maysun.
Her voice was weak, breaking… lacking all fight. "You shouldn't be here… You're too close… He'll sense..."
Where was here? Isabel wanted to ask.
"His compound… Where he keeps the women… the children… His breeding ground…"
Beside her, Alice's eyes frantically darted to the right and left, hearing something from the other side that Isabel could not. She didn't need to imagine too hard though for Serena's snarls sounded much like Edward's.
"You're too close!"
"Don't move," Maysun's distorted voice whispered again over the snarl. Isabel tried to do what she with each step Stefan took the spider web between them became more solid, no longer fluttering in the still air as it started to become more taut. Alice's eyes grew wider and wider, staring at the winding thread until Stefan paused again, now only a few feet away.
"Don't move an inch," both sisters whispered now, practically begging, as Stefan's hand slowly reached out, but not toward Isabel.
Toward the web.
His fingers hesitated over the thin thread. Isabel concentrated with all her might on it, willing it to disappear. How did Marie do it? How did she sever it? Stefan's threads were not like Joham's; it didn't matter if you had a bond. Stefan's blood and venom still called out to its own kind; she needs to hide. Hide! Hide.
And in her mind, she felt the throb of a headache beginning, the painful wave flexing out as she focused with all her might on the thread that began to dim.
And then Stefan was in her face.
"I feel you..."
A cacophony of snarls broke through as Isabel was gripped harshly, yanked away with Alice who booked it down the hall. And all the while Stefan watched her, or rather the thread between them, grow dimmer and dimmer until it disappeared entirely.
Then she was slammed against the wall, Alice's alarmed face in hers.
"Wake up!"
But Isabel couldn't. She was frozen. Unable to think. To breathe. There was a pressure on her chest that squeezed. Squeezed.
Then Alice pushed against her, her palms hitting right over her heart.
"Wake up! Wake up!"
Wake up, wake up!
The whispers of Serena and Maysun echoed Alice's plea as footsteps sounded again down the hall.
Alice's compressions on her chest were now painful.
"Wake up! WAKE UP!"
The dark figure was beginning to round the corner.
"WAKE UP!"
Then two sets of ghostly scarred arms appeared on either side of Alice, out of the black, and all three sets of hands pushed hard, right over her heart.
Isabel gasped awake.
It was like coming out of the lake again that late Hallow's Eve night; her lungs burned, sucking in air with desperate haggard draws that rang in the still quiet. Her vision was cloudy, unfocused, blinking against the bright light that threatened to blind her. Everything sounded muddled, even her heartbeat in her own ears before everything snapped into place with striking clarity.
And she froze.
The room was in utter chaos. All the furniture had been pushed away, haphazardly on the far side of the room. An oxygen mask was over her face, the tank beside her where a wild looking Rosalie and Carlisle hovered over. Their golden eyes were locked onto Isabel's face, Rosalie's hands slowly pulling away from Isabel's chest.
She snapped to the right, taking in Alice who was slumped against Esme, gasping herself. They clutched at each other, though they stared back at the confused and disoriented girl with terror.
And, finally, Isabel's eyes found Edward.
He was pinned to the ground at her feet, Emmett and Jasper holding him down as his black gaze met hers. He looked just as crazed as Rosalie and Carlisle did, as all of them did, but Isabel didn't care. The pitch black of his eyes didn't deter her. Nor did the venom dripping from his mouth that she could now smell. Or the way he looked every bit as the murdering vampires in her vision.
None of that mattered. Isabel only scrambled to her knees, pushing away Emmett and Jasper who instantly released their hold and threw herself on top of her mate.
She didn't even feel Edward shift, but he did, no longer face down on the floor but cradling her in his lap. His arms wounded around her protectively and she felt him scooting away from his family until his back was against the wall. Edward buried his face in her hair, rocking them back and forth.
Someone came near and he snapped up, baring his teeth and growling.
"I only want to check... Her heart-"
"No, no, no." Isabel shook, clinging tighter. Another growl rumbled underneath her and Carlisle sighed.
"Okay… but please. Please, Isabel, drink blood."
No, she wanted to say. She wanted nothing to do with blood. She saw too much of it. Too much. Too much…
She peeked out of Edward's neck, her gaze landing on Alice in the exact same position with Jasper who held her just as protectively, snarling instinctively when Esme drifted too close.
"Please," Carlisle said, "we can smell-"
Edward growled again.
Isabel squeezed her eyes shut. She knows what they smelled. She could smell it herself. Venom. And it wasn't just the pool of venom on the floor that Esme was quickly cleaning. It was in her breath, underneath her skin, and smelled exactly like Edward's, though fainter. It was like a sick joke, mocking her. Venom flaring up to keep her heart beating, keeping it's host alive, to feed off it longer. Stepping in to mend broken bones, offering extra strength and speed for its host to survive and demanding to be paid back in blood. Venom that is starving. Venom activating itself enough for a distant hybrid who shared the same makeup to-
She shakingly nodded and Carlisle sighed in relief before he pushed a foam cup toward her. But her hand was not reaching for it. Edward grabbed the cup, holding it to her unwilling face.
"Please, baby, please," he pleaded, his whisper barely audible. So she took the cup and gulped the blood down.
It was finished in seconds. Carlisle quickly refilled the liquid without a word, and then another, and another. The blood was cold, but sweet, and the desert that was her throat ached for more.
At six cups the dryness finally was beginning to subside and the scent of venom had disappeared. And so had the Cullens, leaving Isabel and Edward alone.
He grabbed her face tenderly though his eyes were fierce.
"Never again," he hissed. "Never."
"N-never."
"Promise me." His voice cracked. "I can't do that again. I can't watch you- your heart stopped." Her eyes widened as his expression twisted into that of agony. So much like Serena's had. "It stopped… You started seizing again when you were in that hallway…"
"I did!?"
Edward pressed his forehead to hers. "You weren't breathing. We could smell the venom, the strongest it's ever been, coating you. Like- like it does when we change… But your heart wasn't beating and Rosalie tried getting it to start again a-and Carlisle with the oxygen and-" he sucked in a ragged breath, his shoulders shuddering. "I couldn't even think. I couldn't even- I… I was going to bite you."
A wave of nausea rolled over her.
Edward was shaking his head, the wildness back in his eyes. "I was going to do it. I couldn't lose you. I was at your throat before I could… But my brothers grabbed me first and Carlisle was yelling that I couldn't, not while your mind was trapped, but I couldn't even hear them. You were all I focused on. I can't lose you! I can't. I can't lose you."
He buried his face in her again, his body racking with tearless sobs and she held him with all her might. It didn't matter that her body was sore. Or that his hold was painful. Or that the dryness in her mouth was returning…
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." She begged, her fingers weaving into his hair. "I'm here. I'm right here."
"Never again."
"Never."
And they nuzzled closer, whispering promises into each other's skin.
•••
The low murmuring downstairs ceased when her foot hit the first step, making her grimace. It was never a good thing when the room fell silent on your arrival. Still, she continued down, trying not to let the pleading pout Edward was sporting lure her upstairs. He wanted her rest, but she had shaken her head defiantly. How could Isabel rest after that? There will be no dreamless sleep from now on.
And she couldn't leave the Cullens to deal with this alone.
Carlisle frowned, "You really should rest sweetheart. We're discussing… the vision… You don't need to hear this."
"I want to."
"You don't-"
"Please," she whispered, "this was my family… Please, I can't sit by."
The Cullens shared a pensive glance before Carlisle nodded. "Okay… but if you feel overwhelmed-"
"I promise to let you know."
He gently smiled and Edward continued down, pulling her to the living room couch where Esme unfurled a thick blanket. She helped Edward wrap the blanket around Isabel before he pulled her into his side and Esme became a blur towards the kitchen. Isabel glanced at Alice who was still in Jasper's lap, both of them cuddled on the loveseat; his hand affectionately grazed her arm and her eyes were closed as if she was sleeping. But she must've sensed Isabel looking for they snapped open and Isabel frowned.
"I'll miss your blue eyes."
A small smile graced her lips. "I'll miss my long hair."
"Why were you human?"
The Cullens shared another look. "I guess that's just how my spirit manifested. My soul?" Alice shrugged. "I don't really know."
"Blue eyes," Jasper murmured and his mate looked up at him. He smiled down at her. "I can see it."
She smiled back.
Esme came back with a mug and Isabel eyed it, "Is that…?"
"Chamomile tea. Your human appetite needs to be taken care of. Let me know when you're ready for lunch."
Her fingers paused in bringing the tea to her lips, "Um. Lunch…? What time is it?"
Esme sent a worried glance toward Edward who shifted a little, "It's about to be one…"
"What!?" Barely!? "How long was the journey?"
Carlisle frowned, "Just under an hour…"
"WHAT!?"
Edward and Esme both patted her hand in an attempt to comfort her, but Emmett's amused chuckle did not help their efforts. Edward glared at him as his mother brushed her hair back, "It happened very quickly. We hardly noticed. Our minds can process things much faster than a human can."
"Yeah, supercomputer up here, Bells." Emmett grinned, tapping his temple.
"It felt like I was in there for hours!"
"It could be why you started seizing," Carlisle's frown deepened as he crossed his arms. "Information overload. That and obviously your own fear and venom reacting to what you saw. It was a lot on your body and your mind, Isabel. We will do those tests later. For peace of mind."
She sighed, "Okay..."
Then Emmett rolled out a giant white board from the hallway, pulling off a lift of a marker with his teeth. "Alright. Let's get down to business…"
Soon another white board was rolled in after the first was full. They didn't need to write anything down, Isabel knew that, but she also knew that they did it for her. For her still processing mind. Her own comfort.
And she was grateful.
By the time her tea was gone, her family tree was right before her. Emmett had very tastefully written out each of her family members' names but left Joham and Izel and Stefan as Jackass 1, 2 and 3. Carlisle had created a list of hybrid characteristics, going through each generation with Esme and their differences. A large map was on the table, Rosalie putting red thumbtacks over Madrid, Columbia and Sinaloa. Jasper had leaned over to look, Alice still tucked into his side, and they pointed out possible routes vampires have been known to take throughout the area.
Edward's lips pressed to her hair again, as he had been every few minutes. His fingers massaged her hand, kneading into her palm and she burrowed into his chest. The need to be close to him was overpowering. It wasn't even a sexual need. She just needed to touch him, know that he was here with her, that he was okay. Safe.
And a sinking feeling pulled at her stomach at the memory of Maysun and Serena losing the love of their lives.
Edward kissed her hair again.
"It could be in Mexico."
"I don't think so. I don't see how Joham could stay hidden down there with a compound of hybrids. Maria is still down there. Wouldn't she have noticed if another coven was nearby?"
Isabel tuned in. "Who's Maria?"
The blonde vampire beside Alice pursed his lips as if debating to answer, before he snorted in amusement at her impatient cocked eyebrow. "You don't stay scared too long, kid. Gotta give you that."
Edward's arms tightened protectively around her. "Maria is Jasper's creator. She's very territorial over the south. Mexico is her domain."
"Maria is like Joham." Jasper said the name quietly, pausing and resuming when Isabel had no reaction to the name. "She craves power. Domination. She has created armies before that the Volturi has destroyed, but they let her live as testimony. Their mindsets are the same but the execution… I gotta say Joham takes the cake in creativity."
"I wouldn't call rape and child abuse creative." Rosalie hissed. Jasper sighed.
"I was being sarcastic… and you're right. It's evil. And I don't know how Joham would manage to stay in Mexico without running into her. So I doubt his compound is there."
"He could be in South America again. Chile. Where Nahuel is from." Rosalie put another thumbtack on the map. Her eyes flitted over the map before she added another on New York City.
Carlisle looked at the map warily. "Wherever he is… Who knows how many children he has under his control."
"An army of his own, no doubt."
"Army?" Isabel whispered. "Like… like to conquer?"
"Conquer. Overthrow. Dominate." Jasper paused, pressing his lips and flickering his eyes between Isabel and Rosalie. "I'm sorry about my comment. It was insensitive. I really did mean it sarcastically."
Isabel nodded, not offended, but Rosalie looked up at him, the corners of her lips gently pulling down. The fake twins stared at each other before Jasper smiled softly and the reservation in Rosalie's eyes melted away. She glanced back down at the map, rolling a thumb tack between her fingers. "We don't know where in Canada Nahuel and Serena were?"
The resting pixie sighed. "No. We only sensed that it was Canada." Rosalie nodded, adding more tacks on the states where Marie passed through.
That reminded her…
Isabel stiffened.
At once all the vampires looked at her, alert and she took a deep breath. "Nahuel looked for Marie… but her shield kept him from finding her. From smelling her. And I have the same… Nahuel said it also kept Stefan from sensing her. But in the vision he could sense me. I could see this super thin line between us flickering and I could hear these voices telling me to hide. And then I felt this band in my head, like a throbbing migraine but it was making the thread disappear."
The Cullens watched her, enraptured.
"But he still saw me. Or sensed me… and isn't that what Nahuel said?" She looked at Alice. "He told Marie that when she died the shield she was keeping up would fall and he'll feel it? Like how Nahuel couldn't find her but finally heard her nearby because she fainted?"
"And you started seizing and went into cardiac arrest…" Carlisle whispered. "You block Edward and Alice and Jasper without even thinking of it; your shield subconsciously is already on."
"Until she's under duress and can't control herself." Jasper murmured. "Stefan already had a hard time sending Delmo and Marie because they were more human."
"Because they had less venom." Esme threw in.
"And Marie blocked her own venom from calling out to him."
"But Isabel is activating hers…"
They all stared at each other.
"And when she...started seizing the venom flared up…" Alice whispered, her eyes becoming distant. "More than it ever had and he finally felt it…"
"But that wasn't the first time her venom did that," Rosalie whispered back. "The first time it flared up badly was after she fell in the lake. When her heart faltered the first time."
"So did the vision show Stefan feeling it during the lake incident or the vision?" Emmett demanded.
"I don't know. I don't know!"
"It's been a week since then!"
"He could already be on his way."
"If he felt it a week ago he felt it stronger now!"
"Do you see any new arrivals?"
"No!"
"We have to prepare."
"Is he going to come for me?" Isabel's quiet voice broke through their anxious back and forth between the family.
All seven vampires immediately rushed forward, speaking over each other in a jumbled reassuring chorus that Isabel couldn't understand. Their voices were muffled. All she could hear was the whooshing in her ears and the too heavy pounding of her heart.
What… had she done?
He'll come for you. He'll come for you.
Maybe Marie was right.
She never should've looked into this.
The Cullens were still trying to reassure her. Promises of keeping her safe. Never letting Joham and his sadistic sons near.
But didn't Serena and Maysun and Nahuel do the same…?
Would she… suffer too?
Her glassy eyes flickered over her family and nothing they said could erase the dread that filled her.
Joham will come. Of that she was certain.
… But who would he take from her this time…?
Her thoughts, as well as the Cullens' frantic consolations, were interrupted by Alice who snapped straight up. Her eyes glazed over before she swiveled around toward the windows that overlooked the woods. Edward was suddenly over Isabel, pinning her into the cushions as his wide and furious eyes scanned outside. He hovered protectively and the rest of his family fell into formation around the trembling girl. Their mouths moved much too fast, their voices a jumble of hissing and growling and Isabel frantically pushed against Edward's steel hands.
"What is it!? What's happening!?"
Alice's blank look didn't waver.
"It's black."
"What!?'
"It's all black. I can't see. I can't see."
The rolling anxiety in her chest burst open like a dam and Isabel began to hyperventilate underneath Edward's grip. He was here. Too late. They were too late.
He was here.
Closer closer closer…
Isabel jerked away from the whisper in her head. No. No, this was real! This was reality and she was awake. There should be no whispers. None! What's going on? Stop! Stop!
Closer closer closer…
Edward growled above her, the menacing sound like a crack of thunder that split the sky. His family, all but Alice, responded with their own fracturing boom as the whispers in Isabel's head grew louder.
He's here he's here he's here
He's here...
And her feeble writhing under Edward ceased as Serena's undeniable voice sighed within her ears.
He's here… finally…
Isabel stared blankly as she took in the relieved tone.
The dreadful dam suddenly stopped overflowing as Serena's sigh whispered.
Finally… Finally …
And she knew.
Isabel's tears fell over.
Her fingers tentatively wrapped around Edward's wrist and she tugged. His face snapped to hers and his black eyes widened at the serene look she was undoubtedly wearing. She tugged again and his hand finally raised from her chest, allowing her teary eyes to look out the window.
Then a few seconds later she stood to walk to the door.
Immediately the Cullens tried to stop her. They reached for her arms, her waist, Edward and Alice both gripping her wrists as their snarling warnings and snaps of their teeth fell on her deaf ears. Only the whispering in her head reached her, a ghostly echo that calmed the storm. Isabel only stared out the door and for the first time in her entire life she felt… she felt…
Empowered.
She could feel it, buzzing beneath her skin, through her bones, in her mind… just waiting to be used. Energized from the blood she had blessed it with. Gone was the stabbing at her temples when she flexed this unknown wall at Stefan and in its place resided a push like a rolling wave, a gentle tug, as easy as breathing…
And the band around her pushed back.
At once all the Cullens hands lifted off of her minutely. Perhaps only a millimeter or two. But it did. She could feel their strength against it, she could hear their shocked gasps, but their hands were off her, trying to touch her through this tiny, and slightly wavering, second skin.
Then the band snapped back and their hands were on her again, though much softer.
Edward stared at her, dumbfounded.
"Bell…"
But there was no time to discuss.
For he was here.
And Edward looked out the window at the same time Isabel breathed a relieved sigh of her own.
"Nahuel…"
Past the porch, beyond the long driveway, entering the tree line there stood a still figure that appeared in the blink of an eye. Though her physical eyes had never taken in the beautiful man she knew his face perhaps better than her own. The long thick black hair tied back in the same woven red tie. The dusty rose petals of his lips. The warm brown of his eyes. The sun golden kiss of his skin.
This time no one stopped her when Isabel threw open the door and ran straight to him.
She didn't run far; she was barely past the porch before she was clutched tightly against a hard broad chest, blistering hot skin against hers.
And she cried.
"You're alive! You're alive!"
Nahuel said nothing. His arms only tightened as Isabel's knees buckled under her crippling relief… which was immediately gone as another growl sounded.
Then they were back at the end of the drive, the speed snapping her head back as she found herself behind a crouching and teeth baring Nahuel.
And an enraged Edward across from him.
"N-no! Stop!"
But neither were listening as the Cullens flanked Edward, each of them glaring threateningly at the hybrid who snarled possessively. The furious bronze vampire hissed something too fast for Isabel to catch, but the Cullens reacted just as viciously and Nahuel shuddered, another snarl breaking through him. His arm darted out to push Isabel further behind him and Edward's black eyes followed the movement.
His hands clenched into fists.
"She's not yours to take!" Edward shouted.
"She's not yours to have!" Nahuel snapped back.
"She is my mate!"
"You are a DEMON!"
"STOP! Please!" Isabel screamed, but they still weren't listening and Edward already lunged.
He was too fast.
He had Nahuel by the throat, slammed into the ground as Alice and Rosalie darted to Isabel's side. She yanked her arms away but was no match for their strength and Isbael couldn't concentrate on anything besides the losing battle Nahuel was fighting. Who was he, a half breed against a full vampire who can read minds? One against an entire coven. But he obviously didn't care, snapping and snarling at Edward as he was, his own fingers now at Edward's throat as they stared murderously at each other. Then Emmett and Jasper were suddenly on top of him, holding Nahuel down. Edward's hand gripped tighter on the hybrid, his fingers digging into jaw.
"I SAID STOP!"
Her scream shot out like an arrow and something burned in her insides.
The air rippled at her breath.
The band flexed again, sharply, piercing through her head like a knife, but the pain couldn't distract her from the way Alice and Rosalie were flung back. They snapped away several feet as if slapped, falling to the ground as did Esme and Carlisle who came too close, releasing a sharp yelp of shock at the scene. Enough to force Edward and Nahuel's eyes toward Isabel as she quickly stumbled forward around the gaping vampires, her tingling hands desperately trying to reach out.
"I s-said… s-stop…"
The world quickly dimmed as the ground rushed up to meet her.
•••
The cold rag finally registered on her too hot skin and Isabel tried to turn toward it.
"Shh, sweetheart, don't move."
Carlisle? Her eyes fluttered in an attempt to open, but the light overhead was too bright. They shut closed and she wrinkled her nose.
He murmured something quickly and then the light outside her eyelids was gone. They squinted open again, blinking against the darkness.
They were back in the hidden medical room behind the study, in the dark.
Isabel tried to sit up but Carlisle grabbed her shoulder, gently pushing down.
"Please. Stay still for a moment. You didn't hit your head, but after you fainted-"
"I fainted?"
"Yes." A small voice to her right answered and Isabel turned to look at Alice. "You… you used your gift… It took too much out of you and you passed out. I caught you just before you hit your head, but Bell… The venom…"
She wrinkled her nose again, now aware of the scratching dryness in her throat and mouth. "I didn't even think about it. I just had to stop Edward from- oh my God! Edward! And Nahuel! I-"
"They're downstairs." Carlisle reassured her, holding up a large cup of red liquid that she quickly chugged. "After you fainted, Edward was too worried to fight, rushing to your side. Nahuel was worried too but Emmett and Jasper had him restrained. He almost broke through when he saw Alice pick you up."
Alice smiled at Isabel's frantic look, "It's okay. I'm used to protective older brothers. When he saw how scared we all were after smelling the spike of venom coming from you he settled down. At least enough to feel more confused than he did threatened. It helped break up the almost fight and we got to the explaining part… He's downstairs talking to everyone." Something snapped and a growl sounded. Alice winced. "Well.. they were talking…"
"What's going on?"
"Nahuel is a hybrid, surrounded by seven vampires. And a vulnerable girl who he sees as his responsibility."
"With a vampire mate…" Alice added quietly. "He understandably is very on edge."
Another crack and a series of thuds; Carlisle sighed.
"And of course, Edward is not… pleased with Nahuel's reaction."
Crash
Isabel looked warily between Carlisle and Alice who shuffled in place. "I'm, um, going to check on that." And the pixie rushed out the door, leaving the blonde vampire pressing the cold rag on her forehead.
"How do you feel?"
"I have a headache from hell," she winced. Even her voice made it throb. Nausea rolled over her in waves. "And I feel like I haven't had any water in a month."
"You are done with the cooler of animal blood."
"I am!?"
Carlisle smiled softly at her harsh whisper. "When I was first changed, I tried to starve myself. Much like your grandmother did. I thought I could kill myself from not feeding and it would be enough. Instead I grew weak, so extremely that I could not even run faster than a lion. Fifty miles per hour, by the way," he chuckled when she finally understood. "In a way it does kill us. We become so weak even our skin becomes more permeable. It cracks easily… I can't imagine how it is with you, having venom that only gets blood from-"
"Rare steak?"
He chuckled again and raised up another glass of blood. "It's… human. But please."
She took it willingly.
"Using your gift drained you. But I think all the blood you drank today gave it the power to come out."
"I'm glad it did," she whispered, conscious of the quiet outside the door. "I didn't want anyone to get hurt…"
"No one will. I'm sorry. We were all on edge when Alice couldn't see the newcomer. We thought the worst. And then shocked when we finally felt your gift manifest. Add in a terrified hybrid who runs in to find you in the middle of seven vampires and well… His first reaction was to take you away, to keep you safe. Of course Edward responded to that and we did not stop to think about it logically. It was a horrible situation to put you in."
"What are they talking about?"
Something shattered.
Carlisle lips pressed together. "I suppose nothing now. I assume you want to join that circus?" At her nod he reluctantly sighed. "Alright. But drink your blood."
When she gulped down the cup Carlisle helped her out of the bed, steadying her through her wobbly steps as she winced against the pain behind her eyes. He kept one arm around her, holding her hand with his other and paused at the door to speak between his teeth.
"She has a migraine. Break anything else and you will be sorry."
Nothing but silence answered him.
Walking downstairs, her nervousness bubbled. It stumbled her steps, made her palms slick with sweat and her breath came harsher. Carlisle kept glancing at her worryingly, but she only shook her head as Alice came into view, darting around downstairs to draw the thick curtains over windows and tidy up broken furniture.
Isabel blinked.
A lot of broken furniture actually.
Esme appeared, quickly sweeping up broken glass from the coffee table, murmuring something too low to hear. Then Isabel was swept off her feet, over the sharp shards on the floor by a glaring Carlisle.
Then they turned in the kitchen, Isabel set back on her feet.
The wooden dining table was cracked, several chairs snapped in half with missing legs. The pristine marble island counter was missing a corner, several long cracks running through it. Large and small holes in the walls dropped drywall dust, along the cabinets and a sizable dent in the door of the fridge.
And in the middle of the nearly destroyed kitchen stood two vampires, glaring hotly at each other, their fists clenched tightly at their sides.
Jasper and Emmett surprisingly weren't trying to hold Edward and Nahuel back from each other, sitting in the only standing chairs in the dining room with smirks in their faces.
"Hey Bells!" Emmett waved. "Here to watch the show?"
"S-show?" She asked nervously, glancing between the two still men who had not looked at her.
Jasper's smirk widened. "Just two assholes who think they know better; the usual."
"Yeah but you have one asshole who's the overprotective boyfriend," Emmett pointed at Edward, "and the other is the overprotective brother." He pointed at Nahuel. "It's like a telenovela come to life!"
Rosalie glared from where she stood behind Edward, her arms folded tightly over her chest. "What they really are are two morons who won't listen to anything other than their fucking dicks."
"Rosalie!" Esme gasped, but Alice smirked from behind her.
"It's true! Their goddamn egos are in the way and you're frightening Isabel!"
At once the two males Rosalie was glaring at stiffened, leaning away from each other to finally look up at the girl who timidly hovered under the arched threshold. Edward's face immediately relaxed, his adoring eyes taking in her presence.
"Bell…"
Nahuel eyes widened when Edward reached out toward her, his teeth making an audible snap. Edward swiveled back toward him, murderously.
"I will never hurt her!"
"You don't know that!"
"I am not your father," he snarled.
"DON'T call him that!" Nahuel got in his face.
"Enough!" Isabel shouted, fighting against the stabbing pain in her head at the loud noise and forced herself over to them. She shoved against Edward, who didn't move at all, but when she touched Nahuel's shoulder his arms wound around her. Nahuel grabbed her wrists instantly and the two men glared at each other over her head.
"Let. Go."
Nahuel growled back.
"No."
Someone chuckled behind them.
"She isn't safe here," Nahuel hissed. "Yet you're still sitting around. For what!?"
"The female-"
"The woman you let get away. The wolves you let around her. The spiritual quest you allowed her to take!" Then Nahuel glared down at Isabel, snarling. "What in the hell were you thinking!?"
"Don't talk to her that way." Edward's voice was low, deadly, and Isabel shivered.
"Y-you know?"
"I know everything." Nahuel looked back up to sneer at Edward. "Your… mate's coven told me everything."
"Family."
"No. Coven."
Edward growled.
Okay. Now Isabel was really pissed off. She yanked herself away, the two men immediately releasing their hold and hoped her glare was as threatening as theirs. Her finger pointed toward them.
"I just woke up from the most terrifying experience of my life. I find out that I have some psycho grandfather out there who hunted my family down, killed my great grandmother, and wants to breed his own kids. And that my grandmother was abandoned, as a child, one that YOU," she pointed at Nahuel, "left alone for almost fifty years! And she ran my own mother off because of her own fucking trauma and left me motherless and gaslighted my father his whole life! And feeling like a goddamn alien my whole life! And YOU," she turned on Edward, "think you both can throw a fucking tantrum when I'm still trying to process this entire mess and have your stupid dick measuring contest on 'who puts Isabel the least in danger?' LOOK what you did!" Her hands waved around the kitchen. "Neither of you have any fucking say about what I do next! YOU suddenly show and think you can tell me what to do!? And YOU have to agitate him and make this worse!? You will sit down, you will listen, and no one is taking me anywhere unless I say so!"
The utter silence was broken by her heaving pants as her hands shook, the pounding of her heart almost painful. Both men only stared blankly at her and she was too angry to look toward the rest of the Cullens.
And then… Nahuel's lips twitched up as he whispered wistfully.
"You are so much like her…"
Isabel glared and Alice skipped to her side, smiling smugly. "Shall we move this… conversation to the back patio? Some fresh air might cool things off…"
Her cold hand slipped into Isabel's and she followed without hesitation, ignoring Edward's gaze and Nahuel's twitchy hand. Outside Esme had already pulled up a few chairs and Alice plucked down in the one beside Isabel.
"Your father will call soon."
"He will?" Alice nodded. "Is he okay?"
"He's going to beg Esme for forgiveness… Billy Black will invite him out to dinner after his shift to talk." She said pointedly. "Charlie will try to insist on taking you but Billy will tell him it's personal and needs to only be them."
Her shoulders sagged. "He's going to come clean to my dad."
The pixie pursed her lips. "I can't see the aftermath… only that your dad is asking we keep you for another hour or two for the conversation. Which Esme will insist isn't any trouble at all. Still, he's upset that he has to ask."
"My dad is not one to ask for help."
"Hmm. Family trait?"
She smiled.
The shrill of the house phone came at no surprise then as the Cullens filtered out to the porch, Emmett and Rosalie sitting on the steps and Jasper coming to sit at Alice's feet. Carlisle took the seat next to Isabel leaving Edward and Nahuel no space near her.
Good.
She glared at them as Edward went to lean against the railing instead, avoiding her eyes and Nahuel stood by the door, meeting her glare head on.
Esme darted out. "Your father is just worried, sweetheart. Worried and tired and I'm sure he misses you."
The hybrid looked between Esme and Isabel. "Father? … Charles?"
"Charlie," Edward deadpanned, ignoring Nahuel's steely glance.
"He's still human?"
"Yes," Carlisle leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Billy Black is his best friend, the son of Kaya."
"Marie's mate."
"Yes."
The hybrid frowned. "Has he shown signs of… illness?"
"Besides what I've observed of his cells, no. He hasn't fainted or shown any of the issues that Delmo and Marie had. Neither has Isabel. Well… until now. Isabel's… instinct seems to have stirred with our proximity and finding her own mate. Charlie's seems to still be dormant for now."
"It won't last. Delmo also didn't have a mate. And he lived more human than any of us. His body still gave out."
"Yes. And therefore once Charlie Swan knows everything I will give me the choice."
"Choice?"
"To be changed," Carlisle said softly. "Just as Isabel has the choice."
Nahuel stiffened, stepped toward Isabel that caused Edward to step closer too.
"Will you do it?"
She nodded slowly. "I want it. I only haven't yet because things were so… murky. That and…"
"We need to make sure she can change." Carlisle stepped in. "You did not bite Delmo or Marie. We don't know how their bodies would've reacted, or how Isabel's might react, already being part vampire. We need to make sure it works… and is safe."
"I have been bitten. I have no reaction."
The Cullens all straightened up at that and Isabel frowned. "What?"
Pulling up the sleeves of his black shirt Nahuel exposed arms littered with silver crescents. Carlisle rushed forward, staring intently at the markings as Nahuel shook his head. "Fighting with Joham… and my brothers. I have been bitten many times. It burns and hurts, but it has no effect on me otherwise. My heart does not stop and my blood still remains."
"Incredible," Carlisle whispered.
But Edward's eyebrows pinched, eyeing the bite marks. "He isn't sure if biting you will change anything."
"I can voice my own thoughts, mind reader."
"Where did these come from?" Isabel stood, reaching out to turn Nahuel's arms in her hands. She traced the bite marks, furrowing her brows in confusion. He didn't have these before; not with Serena, not when he found Marie. These were new. Unmistakably.
Beside her Edward jerked forward, grabbing Isabel as he snarled.
"You were!?"
Everyone looked between Edward and Nahuel now, Isabel too shocked by his reaction to pull away from him. Instead she insisted, "Were what!? Tell me."
Nahuel dropped his eyes.
"I was with Joham."
Now the rest of the Cullens and Isabel gasped. She jerked away further into Edward as his arms tightened around her. The hybrid watched the way Edward protectively move her further away from him, but Isabel spoke over.
"What happened? After that day?"
"After I left Marie… There was nowhere else for me to go. I couldn't hover nearby. I was too afraid of leading Stefan toward her as I did Serena so I ran. As far away as I could but even then there was no way for me to make sure she was safe. No way to check on her. I had lived too long away from humans at that point while looking for her that I couldn't assimilate. So Huilen and I decided the best way for me to know absolutely that Marie was safe was to go back to Joham, watch him, be aware of his planning and who he knew about."
"You… you went back!?"
"Weren't you afraid he'd control you?" Alice asked over Isabel.
"His hold was never as strong with me as my sisters. I was confident in my ability to resist… the worst of him. I searched for him and Huilen would hover nearby, watching me. Together we could watch Joham and monitor his steps."
"Huilen is alive?" Isabel whispered.
It was not lost on anyone that Nahuel did not answer.
"I found him and his children. Hidden in the Congo rainforest."
"His compound is in Africa?"
Nahuel looked startled before he rolled his eyes. "Of course you know about the compound. Yes. Joham obviously thought I was there to attack, and I spent five years just trying to prove I wasn't there to destroy him. He often commanded his sons to attack me, to force me to retaliate and he took a sick joy at watching… but he never ordered my death. I don't know why."
"Joham gains nothing by having you killed. You are an unmated son that could reproduce. A pawn."
The hybrid didn't acknowledge Edward's comment. "5 years. I took it. It meant I was around to catch any sign that Stefan sensed Marie. He never did. But I could tell he was trying. I often overheard Izel mocking him for not catching Marie that day and they nearly killed each other many times before Joham forced them to stop. They assumed Marie died. And Stefan wanted to keep it that way. He never told Izel and Joham about the shield."
"Really!?"
Nahuel nodded. "He didn't want to admit to Joham that there was a gift besides him and one that could block him. One greater than he was. At that time of course he was the only gifted child. So they believed Stefan couldn't feel Marie because she was dead and Stefan never corrected them. Until I showed up."
"You saw Stefan forced back by the shield, that day." Isabel whispered. "You saw what she did."
"I obviously never said a word either. It was this strange… pact he and I silently agreed to. We would say nothing about the shield, him out of ego or embarrassment and I out of protection. Stefan often stepped in to stop my torment, getting Joham to ease up on me. None of this was done with affection. It was only to indebt me to him. His silence that Marie lived… It was a hard line to walk."
The sadness in his turned away face made her hands itch to reach for him, but Edward kept his unmoving hold on her.
"With Serena and Maysun gone and me under his thumb Joham didn't see Marie as a threat, even if she was alive. He dropped the idea of her immediately after… after that day. He never looked. He would just make another granddaughter."
Isabel flinched at Rosalie's snarl. "And you watched him!?"
"No!" Nahuel barked, his eyes blazing. "I tried all that I could to sabotage any attempt to impregnate another human woman. I would tell Huilen of the women Joham focused on and she did her best to get them away without him finding out. When I showed up to the compound Joham had already added three other children. Two boys and one girl; Ezra, Namir… and Zafrina. The boys had no gifts but Zafrina… Zafrina is just another facet of Joham. She can make you think you see something that is not there. She puts impressions in your head that you cannot shake. Her gift is too valuable for Joham to risk her life with impregnating her with a vampire. And she knows it. So she keeps him happy, forcing illusions on whoever he wants just to keep him from bringing in a vampire and-" Nahuel caught the shiver that shot through Isabel, his mouth snapping shut. He swallowed, dropping his eyes again.
"The first five years, I could do nothing. Obviously. Zafrina used her gift on me and made me see things that weren't there, all the while her brothers used me as… practice. Stefan stepped in when it was near unbearable. It was during those five years that another son was born to Joham. Levi. Jittery little thing. You cannot stand near him without being crippled with fear. His self preservation both saves and harms him and he cannot function as we do. Joham cannot physically touch him without being paralyzed by his infectious terror. But he stays, because he's too afraid to do anything else."
"Fear, manipulation, controlling and… able to find you anywhere." Carlisle frowned. "Your gifted siblings have inherited traits of Joham's abuse. Just as Marie inherited her father's defiance. That Isabel now has."
"There's more."
Nahuel glared at Edward who glared back. "Yes, there's more," he admitted with a hiss. "In the past ten years one more son was born. Joham did better at hiding the human mother and she was dead before I was even aware she was pregnant. Hakim. Another gifted one. He drops all your defenses, makes you think you're safe, turns off your instinct to run, attack, lures you in just by looking at you. At one point we traveled back through South America to find Joham another… mother. We came across a large coven and I thought surely we would die. She was ruthless. She coveted what we were and was going to fight Joham for us but-"
"Whoa, wait. She?" Jasper gasped. "Maria?"
Nahuel frowned. "Yes. How did you know?"
"We were just… She was my sire. I was just wondering how you could've avoided…" Jasper shook his head, shocked.
"We couldn't avoid her. But she was dead before she could make a move."
"She's dead?" The blonde vampire whispered.
"Zafrina attacked their minds. Levi kept them in place. Hakim was still only a child… one look at Hakim and Maria fell to her knees. She looked like every adoring mother in history," he murmured, lost in his thoughts. "It was all too easy for Joham to tear her head off."
"Another facet of Joham." Esme glared. "I recognize the trait well. My… previous husband was quite the charmer in public. The perfect friend and neighbor. No one would ever think of him being capable of what he did behind doors. They gravitated toward him…"
The hybrid looked hard at Esme, his lips tugging down. "I am so sorry."
She shook her head. "He is dead. Gone. As your- Joham will be."
"... There's more…"
This time Nahuel didn't glare at Edward for voicing his thoughts. Instead he looked at Isabel, his expression filled with dread.
"A week ago, Stefan sensed you."
Isabel held her breath.
"Joham had two women at the compound, about to give birth. I missed them when he sent me off on a 'mission'. I was racing through to the bottom level to reach them when I found Stefan just standing in a hallway."
Her heart stuttered.
"He was looking off, like… like he was seeing something I could not. He didn't even acknowledge me. And I had seen him do this once or twice over the past two weeks. Randomly stopping and looking toward something."
The cold air sent a shiver down her spine.
"He never mentioned it. Never drew Joham's attention. He would stop…"
Her breath came in heavy draws as Edward's hands gripped her arms tighter.
And Alice gasped.
"Isabel's venom flared up a week ago. At the lake."
Rosalie shook her head. "Before that. In the cafeteria."
"Before that," Edward whispered. "When she had her nightmare…"
She couldn't breathe.
She couldn't breathe.
Cold hands cupped her face and Edward's frantic face filled her vision.
"Breathe, love. In. Out. Breathe."
I'm trying, she thought. Her hands held onto his wrists for dear life, squeezing her eyes shut and his cold forehead pressed against hers.
He sensed her.
Long before she even…
Nahuel's voice barely made it past the whooshing in her ears.
"It wasn't till I saw him smile in that hallway that I realized what happened… I didn't think twice. I ran out. And Stefan's children ran after me and Huilen… She stepped in to give me time to get away."
Isabel turned to him, eyes wide.
"She didn't make it."
"I don't know," he turned away. "I just wanted to get here in time. Marie said you had the gift and I… I had hoped I would make it to you, change you, and hopefully that gift would keep you hidden again. Imagine my shock when I smelled vampires in this town, mixed with your scent at your house."
A shaky laugh burst from her lips, her hands trembling. "Imagine my shock knowing I have a distant Uncle somewhere out there."
He frowned, watching her entire body shiver.
"He's coming."
"He won't touch her." Edward snarled.
Nahuel met his glare with his own.
"What's the plan?"
•••
4:00 pm
The hybrid eyed the pastry warily, turning it over in his hands.
"I don't think I want to eat this…"
"It's good. I promise."
He cocked an eyebrow at her. "It smells like your grandmother."
Emmett's loud laugh bounced throughout the house as Isabel pressed her lips together to fight a smile. The cinnamon roll Rosalie had made yesterday sat uneaten in Nahuel's hand and she plucked it away from him, taking a bite.
"You're not eating Marie. Just try it. You wrecked the kitchen. The least you can do is-" she flinched when he took it away, smiling at his apologetic glance for his too quick movement. The cinnamon roll hovered in front of him before he bit into it.
His mouth chewed slowly. "It's… good."
"Better than blood?"
"Nothing is better than blood."
"Ah, but you haven't had my lasagna yet. Just you wait."
"... What's lasagna?"
Her lips twitched.
"Hopefully I don't die soon so I can reintroduce you to the human way of life."
Nahuel looked at her blankly. "Why would you say that?"
"... I was making a joke."
"You think your death is funny?"
"Um," someone laughed from inside the house, "No…?"
She squirmed under his intense stare, relieved when he turned his attention back to the dessert, biting into the cinnamon roll again.
They sat outside on the porch as the Cullens picked the inside of the house before her father's arrival. Esme was not quiet at all about her displeasure at the mess Edward and Nahuel made, sighing at every hole they patched, every crack they tried to hide, every bite that Isabel took of her pizza because they couldn't cook in the mess.
At least Nahuel and Edward had the decency to look embarrassed.
Esme had warmed up the dessert for Isabel, ushering the two relatives outside and shushing Nahuel when he offered to help.
"No, no. Don't you worry. I can't hold you accountable for this."
And behind Esme, Edward had shuffled on his feet, glaring at Rosalie and Emmett… and Jasper… and Alice… who all smirked at him. It was nice; having the tension of the morning and afternoon broken up by a more fitting form of introduction. Nahuel was still severely uncomfortable by the Cullens, often eyeing the gold of their eyes, flinching when they came too close, hovering over Isabel as she walked throughout the house...much to Edward's annoyance. She caught the two constantly glaring at each other whenever one of them touched her; when Edward took her hand, when Nahuel steadied her stumble, when they both just took a step near her.
Alice, however, was warming her way into his good graces, her kind smiles often leaving Nahuel more quiet than hostile. He was intrigued by her, by Esme, even Rosalie, watching them more closely while avoiding being blocked in by Emmett and Jasper. Carlisle had been able to get him to speak, drawing him over to the white boards where Nahuel had taken everything in, blinking in surprise at Isabel who had blushed under his stare.
"You truly do know everything."
She nodded, "Are you still upset?"
"No. Proud."
That made the blush worse.
It was fascinating to watch this man she had just learned about now physically in front of her. And she knew he watched her back. They often caught each other looking, observing, this stranger who they felt so connected with. Sometimes Isabel even caught a glimmer of something other than intrigue in his eyes; something softer, sadder. When she laughed. When she scoffed. When she rolled her eyes. Isabel would catch that look in Nahuel who almost always looked away, the shadow of grief flickering over his face.
The sounds of busy repairing sounded from inside as Isabel took the piece of the cinnamon Nahuel offered and popped it in her mouth.
"Are you weirded out?"
His lip twitched at the saying. "I am… overwhelmed."
"... Me too."
"I had never heard of… vegetarians before." He said the word like it was dirty.
"They strongly believe in preserving human life."
Nahuel's face pinched, a frown forming as he thought.
"... You don't believe them?"
"It's not that. I see the evidence in their eyes. With you sitting here unharmed. I just can't… It's hard to fully understand it."
"I know what you mean," she sighed, wrapping her arms around her legs. She caught that look in Nahuel's eyes again. "What?"
"You just look so much like her."
"Marie?"
"Yes… And Serena."
Her eyes pricked. "I saw it, you know. When she was born. When she found you… When you came together."
He only looked over to the darkening treeline.
"... I feel like I've known you my entire life, but really, we've just met. Well, sort of. The first time doesn't really count…"
"I often thought of that day," he murmured. "If I hadn't left. I didn't think you'd remember me, but I could recall your little face. Clear as day."
"I did remember you. Sort of." Her finger picked at a loose thread in her jeans. "Kaya tampered with my memory that day, but deep down I think I knew. I had a dream about it and I knew there was someone standing in the kitchen. At the time I had no other face to put on it besides Edward's."
He glowered at the name.
"... He won't hurt me."
"As long as your heart beats, I will always worry about him hurting you. It's not only you becoming… pregnant," the word came out as a snarl. "But your blood is still human. You can still cut yourself. The venom may mask the burn but once your blood freely flows there is nothing protecting it; it will burn. It will call to him, like any other human blood. Until your heart stops beating, I will worry."
She bit her lip, thinking this over. Crickets started chirping. "This boy at school cut himself and all I could think about was his blood. I didn't know why at the time. Growing up I obviously smelled it before, but it was only just strong. And nauseating almost. Like it would overwhelm me and I used to point it out to my friends. They thought I was weird and made fun of me…"
"I'm sorry."
"It's nice knowing why now."
"You think it's nice knowing?"
She winced under his incredulous- or annoyed- tone. "Well, obviously it's hard. I'm just saying that I finally understand and that's… nice?"
"I don't understand you."
Another laugh sounded from inside and she sighed. "Same… At least you're not calling me insane."
"No, but I'm thinking it."
"Wow. Thanks for that."
"You're welcome." He offered a small teasing smile before his brown eyes flickered toward the house where thudding could be heard. "You trust them."
"I do."
"Then I'll trust them too." His gaze jumped back and forth between her face and the door, deadpanning, "I still don't like him."
Isabel laughed, relief flooding her senses and she leaned over to hug him. He stiffened under her arms, but didn't move away.
"I'm so happy you're here," she whispered honestly and those burning hot arms came around her shoulders.
"I am too…"
"As a kid, I used to daydream about having a sibling. I felt lonely a lot of the time."
"Serena used to beg for lightning to strike me dead."
She laughed again, tears filling her eyes. "She didn't mean it."
"No… she didn't…"
They held each other for a moment more before the door softly opened.
"Isabel?" Alice murmured. "Your father is on his way."
Nahuel's face crinkled at the mention and she cupped his cheek. "You'll meet him soon."
He nodded hesitantly, following Isabel inside where Edward waited by the stairs, arms folded over his chest. He and Nahuel shared a glance and Edward blinked once.
Isabel pretended not to notice.
Esme went up to Nahuel, asking him something as she made her way over to the frowning bronze boy and took his hand.
"Will I see you tonight?"
"... Do you want to see me?"
"Always."
He sighed, his shoulders sagging. "I'm sorry…"
"I know. You're just worried." She leaned up to press her lips to his, taking his hands in hers. "Overprotective vampire."
He chuckled. "I have to be. You're a magnet for trouble."
"I resent that." His laugh was like fresh air as he pulled her into his arms. "I feel like I got hit by a semi."
"... You wouldn't know that from experience would you?"
Her laugh bubbled out. "No. My experiences are limited to an old rusty car."
"Let's not add anymore to the list."
"Deal."
Edward led her to the couch where they sat together, Isabel leaning into his side and wrapping her arms around his chest with a contented sigh. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Nahuel grow more uncomfortable by the second until Alice flitted over to him, smiling dazzlingly for a second as she asked him something.
He gave a curt nod, throwing one more steely glare at Edward before following her and Jasper outside. Carlisle and Esme and Rosalie and Emmett stood in the kitchen, still working on the repairs. Isabel turned toward Edward and whispered, "Where did they go?"
"Just for a walk. Jasper sensed him getting anxious."
"I feel like that will be his permanent state here."
His dark eyes were staring out the window, "He's afraid of you being so intimate with me. A simple hug nearly throws him into a panic."
"That bad?"
"He thinks I'm going to try to get you pregnant to start my own lineage. He can't wrap his head around the fact that I actually love you."
"Can you blame him?" She said softly. "After everything he's seen? The only mates he's witnessed have been human ones. Go easy on him."
"He was going to run away with you."
"You would literally do the same thing."
Edward glanced at her and away. "That's not the same."
"It is!" She scoffed and she swore she heard someone chuckle from the kitchen. "It is exactly the same!"
"... Okay, but-"
"He saw his sisters killed," her voice was small now. "He went through terrible things… Please. Please, don't make this harder for him."
Edward's hand clenched in on itself on the small of her back before it relaxed. "Alright… I'll… try to get along with him..."
"Please. I… care about him."
"I will do it. Right now when your father gets you I'll talk to him. Civilly."
"You promise."
"Yes." He kissed her forehead. "We're going to go over plans again. I'm assuming he will be a part of them from now on; we're preparing to move. Alaska. With our cousins up there there are more than enough of us to take on any army of Joham's. Now that we know exactly how many children he has and what gifts they possess we can better prepare for any encounter. And change you."
"What if your cousins don't like me?"
"They will." His lips pressed against her temple.
"How soon are we moving?"
"As soon as Victoria is dead. The wolves were patrolling for her today. They haven't contacted us, so there was no sign of her."
"... I guess I should spend as much time as I can with Angela…"
Edward's face pinched. "I'm so sorry."
She bit down on her lip to keep it from trembling.
"Do you think they'll let me say goodbye to Jacob?"
"I don't know. But there's no hurt in asking."
"... Do you want to know something ridiculous?"
Edward glanced at her, his expression patient.
And her lip trembled again.
"Out of everything I saw… everything I learned… The only person I wanted most of all...was my mom."
His face didn't change, but his thumb brushed over her hand.
"I don't know. I guess it was seeing Maysun with Delmo and Serena with Marie… even the way Inma had asked me about her baby… it just made me wonder if my mom would've done the same. And having Nahuel here who only really met me barely once and he's already so protective; he was ready to die earlier, Edward. For me. And I-I just… I just wonder… how he could feel that and my mom..." she whispered. "I feel so confused…"
His thumb brushed over her again.
Her eyes teared up.
And then-
"Why do I still miss her?"
Silence filled the living room. Even the kitchen. Nothing but her light sniffles were heard and the soft kisses he placed on her face. His cold hand came up to rest gently on her cheek, stroking softly.
But then he stiffened.
Alice burst through the door, her voice a ringing siren blaring through the house.
In the blink of an eye Edward and Carlisle and Rosalie were gone, Isabel falling into the couch cushion that Edward disappeared from and stumbled to her feet.
"What's happening!? What's wrong!?"
Alice's shrill voice was still ringing, Emmett, Esme and Jasper running upstairs with the pixie as Nahuel appeared in front of Isabel, taking her in his arms.
"What is it!? Tell me! Tell me!"
But he only squeezed his eyes shut.
The door burst back open and Edward zoomed upstairs.
She pushed away from Nahuel, trying to run toward the stairs when two other figures zoomed up after him, the rush of air blowing her hair away from her face. Her legs raced up, throwing the door open to Carlisle's study and toward the back.
And her knees nearly gave out.
Her father, bloody and broken, on the table she laid on just hours ago. His shirt was torn open, Carlisle and Rosalie working over the ugly gashes over his chest, Edward setting up a brace over his legs.
Nahuel appeared at her side.
"Your psychic saw him drive into a tree. Speeding."
Isabel blinked. Numbly.
"Purposefully."
She stayed frozen in place.
Then her father coughed, sputtering once as his eyes flickered open. His unfocused eyes flickering around, catching the vampires rushing over him and he grimaced.
"It's true, isn't it?"
They frantically stared back.
"Fuck."
And then he passed out.
XXXX
Saturday, October 31
12:00 am
(Pacific standard time)
8 am
(Central Africa Time)
The screams were aggravating.
Repetitious.
Unexciting.
Insignificant.
They grated on his ears and he longed just to snap the necks of the women, tearing the offspring from their wombs and be done with it to stop the sound from tearing at his eardrums. Joham be damned.
But instead he walked away, as far as he could from the disgusting room the human women wasted away in. He did his job. He left the blood at the door. Zafrina could do the rest.
"Done with your chore already?"
Stefan paused, glancing over at the smirking figure who leaned against the wall. When he said nothing, the figure sucked his teeth.
"Not chatty today?"
Stefan only stared.
"Father thinks one of them," Izel nodded toward where the screams came from, "is a girl. If he is right, and that babe dies because you were too fucking lazy to help Zafrina keep the mother alive, this just might be the end for you." His smirk widened. "He is desperate for a girl."
The silence stretched on and Izel shrugged, pushing away from the hall.
"Just trying to warn you. Little brother. It's your head."
And he walked away with a chuckle.
Stefan waited till he was gone then continued walking. Down the hall. Past the rooms. Strolling by the open balcony overlooking an enclosed space smack in the middle of the compound. Stefan glanced over the edge, catching sight of Levi sitting on a concrete step below, twitching. Rocking. Fingers tapping nervously against his knee.
He ignored the boy and continued walking.
The screams were getting too loud. His pace picked up a little more. Such irritating sounds.
Exasperating.
Inconvenient.
Monotonous.
…
… tug…
His footsteps stopped.
…
…
… tug…
It was back; the barely there pull that he had felt a couple times the past week. A tugging of a hair thin strand from the center of his chest…
And it drew him to the right.
Stefan obeyed the thread.
He stared down the dark hallway. Nothing but him stood in this area and he quickly mapped out everyone's surroundings within the compound. He could feel Izel, nonchalantly making his way outside; Levi still twitching and muttering to himself on the steps. Zafrina with the women. Ezra and Namir gone with Joham on a hunt. Hakim in his room.
But Stefan stared ahead, facing West, the thread tugging just a little more...
He took a step into the hall.
… tug…
He drifted closer, slowly, and the hair yanked a little hard, beckoning a little was stronger now. Forceful. One quick jerking of a hair that sent that familiar exhilarating shiver down his spine at this new tiny thread that was his little secret.
And it was still calling him forward.
He took a step.
And another.
And another…
By now the pull should be gone; the last couple of times it had only yanked once, disappearing so fast Stefan almost questioned feeling it at all.
But it was stronger. Now.
… tug…
… tug…
He hadn't felt a thread this thing since...
His hand slowly reached out, upward toward where he felt the strand start to fade out, slipping between his fingers.
And that shiver passed through him again.
The tug faltered, loosening, fading away-
He took one giant step forward, feeling the last forceful yank before it was gone entirely.
"I feel you..."
His whisper carried through the dark hallway, floating throw the air, westward… toward the tug...
A different thread tugged at him now, but Stefan didn't fare for this one.
His attention was elsewhere.
He continued down the hall, slowly, as if he could drift back into the line of that excitable pull as pounding footsteps raced behind him, toward screams down below.
And then they stopped.
Stefan could hear him heaving, could practically feel his hot angry breath fan over his face even from this distance. But he didn't care for Nahuel's rage right now at being tricked away. Joham was becoming suspicious of the disappearances of the women he coveted. Stefan had to send Nahuel on an "errand" to make sure Joham got what he wanted; a new child.
But Nahuel still hadn't move, watching him from down the hall, his breath quieting as he went stock still.
Stefan turned his gaze away from the west, slowly meeting the paling hybrid across him.
And smiled.
Nahuel's eyes widened, his heart picking up pace from the already hammering rate it race in before he shot off like a rocket, launching his body through the cement walls and causing every one in the compound to hiss, startled.
Stefan said only one thing.
"Get him."
He could feel Zafrina and Levi shoot out after Nahuel. He could feel Izel take the lead. He could hear the responding snarls of the female vampire that he knew lingered around at the edges of the hills.
But he only continued to walk down the hall, glancing to the west.
And smiled…
I'm so happy you're enjoying this story. Thank you guys so so much.
Have you seen Encanto? Surface pressure is my favorite song