Chapter Seven: The Swan Coven
The Swan Residence - February 6th
"This video is bonkers." Eliza said casually from the center position on the couch, Leah snuggled up on her right and Brianna on the left. Everyone in the potential new coven was present, including Esme who couldn't quite connect her own actions with the woman on the screen.
"You would've made a good enforcer." Isabella observed, but squeezed Esme's shoulder to let her know it wasn't intended as an insult. Esme managed a terse smile, then turned back towards the screen.
"Irrefutable and horrifying." Jasper said, shaking his head in mild disbelief. "I had no idea he was so twisted and bigoted, and that's coming from someone who came of age during the Civil War."
"You have got to stop reminding people that you're a Southern gentleman, that's shorthand for slave owner." Adara chuckled, hugging her husband a little tighter to make sure he didn't feel attacked. However, Jasper did scoff and shake his head.
"I did not own slaves, my father freed our slaves and they worked for us for years happly. Aunt Patty was practically my mother." His voice was bordering on defensive, but it was clear he was proud of his family's actions. Given the time period it was both incredibly difficult and a massive financial hardship to get multiple slaves freed according to certain local and state laws. Which was exactly what Jasper's father had done as soon as the land passed to his control after his own father's death.
"Your Aunt Patty…" Isabella started, but stopped herself before revealing she knew more than Jasper did. "... She may have loved you, but she also must have been conflicted over those emotions." Isabella frowned softly, she had once found reading about the old south interesting. Until she had gone through some of the same violence many slaves lived through. Then it became a passion, and she spent years reading and researching the time period, and even knew about Jasper's family history. She was being generous about Patty's situation, since she was only working from records, but she was born a slave, freed when she was fifteen only to end up indentured because of the related costs and died in her thirties during childbirth. It made Isabella's heart hurt thinking about all the horrors she must've faced in her short life.
"Well that much is true, even as a child I could feel things. I should see if there are records of my family. Maybe she is listed…" Jasper started and Isabella shook her head to stop him.
"I wouldn't, but if you must know Patty died shortly after your disappearance." Isabella hadn't wanted to tell him, but looking at your past through the rose colored glasses of memory had to be easier than seeing the facts on paper.
Jasper leaned forward in horror, "no, she was barely thirty. She was… oh were there records of how she died?"
"Childbirth, a daughter. The girl lived well, had a grand family of her own and died of old age in 1952 surrounded by her family. Some of her children marched across the bridge in Selma, and her great granddaughter was a Senator." Isabella boiled down the lives of four generations in a single sentence. One of the grandchildren had been a writer and his memoirs were an important portrait into the family, and an excellent read.
"Are… are any of her descendants still alive?" His sudden desperation made everyone suddenly engage in the conversation. Polite disinterest was no longer relevant as it was clear to almost everyone where his questioning was going.
"I believe so, yes, they still live down in Alabama." Isabella said with a raised eyebrow.
"What's going on Jasper?" Adara asked, pulling away from her husband.
"I can't." Jasper wrapped his arms around his stomach and tried to find his own emotional center. Then finally looked at his wife who was staring at him with growing anger. He nodded and cleared his throat a couple of times for emphasis and to give himself another second to prepare himself for what he was about to say; "you have to understand that Patty was only ten years older than me, and I had such a fixation on her."
"Tale as old as time, you think that family might be your kin." Charlie guessed.
Jasper hesitated before nodding twice, "it was just one night, but she had no other man in her life. The timing is too perfect, and she had been wanting to tell me something before I left."
"I know I had a sister that may have had children, but I don't even know my last name." Alice interrupted, Jasper gave her a strained look. "Immortality has some drawbacks."
"It's my blood Alice, I had pushed the possibility to the back of my mind unwilling to even look it up." Then he glared openly at Isabella, throwing out his words like an accusation. "How do you even know about my past Isabella?"
Isabella tilted her head at him and shook it in disappointment, "I was doing research into the Civil War, I found info on your disappearance and traced it back from there. Just simple curiosity, you were one I knew the little about. It helped give me some closure. The idea of you being a slave owner also gave me some clarity on how I was treated."
Adara started to sway back and forth, "okay please let's stop this before it goes too far. We don't want to start throwing accusations or get into name calling. We have already established Isabella was wronged, the family is deeply apologetic and I will formally and unequivocally state that every single member of the family here regrets leaving you behind Isabella, and never thought of you as less than a part of the family. I hope to get to know you, and look forward to what we are starting to build here."
Isabella didn't react, but she could see in the eyes of the rest of the Cullens that Adara did speak the truth and they shared the sentiment. She thought about the implications, yes she had implied forgiveness and given it to both Alice and Esme, but to extend that to the rest of them she wasn't sure if she was ready. Alice squeezed her hand slightly, as if trying to help her figure out where she stood and in a way it did work. These people here were there for her, and had followed her. There was no point in denying that, or refusing to accept a truth that had been confirmed several times. No, it was time for that conflict to end.
"It is hard to change your mind from over ninety years, to abandon a hate that all but defined you. But it is clear to me now that the anger and need for revenge was misplaced, so, once and for all, I accept your apology." Isabella let out a breath at the end, as if something deep inside had released.
"My niece lives just a mile from here." Angela said without the usual relationed emotion, her body rigid and her face blank.
"Madison, she's lovely. A friend… who I haven't spoken to since everything happened. Shit." Eliza started, then scrunched up her mouth into a pouty frown.
"Eliza, Henry never had a chance to withdraw you from school so I think you are now three days absent, and all three of you are considered missing and wanted for questioning about the explosion. Carlisle was calling in for all of you," Zoey waved vaguely towards the collected Cullens, everyone turning towards her with questioning looks except for Angela and Charlie. "I hacked Miss Cope's computer a year ago when mom started actively furnishing the house."
"You knew all this time?" Charlie looked at Angela who simply shrugged.
"I bought the house years ago, and I knew we were always going to come back here, there was no reason to not prepare for it. I just tried not to believe it was a possibility. Hope for the best, expect the worst." Angela shrugged, her face still expressionless.
"So not coming back here would've been for the best? Oh never mind your in one of your fucking trances!" Charlie said feeling fed up with how his daughter hid herself behind her own gift. It wasn't the act or even the changes to her personality. It was the fact that she was letting herself wall her real self behind layers of facade and darkness due to her trauma.
"I will admit doing back to back barrier set ups has been putting me on edge, and maybe it was a mistake to enter into a new dynamic when I cannot commit my full self to the discussion. Coming to this place felt wrong before, but obviously I was wrong. How was I supposed to know this situation would arise? It was unaccountable." She sounded flat, despite her words she could emote.
"Sorry, Angela here has a very complicated mind that tends to split off when she needs to compartmentalize." Charlie explained for her although he was clearly frustrated.
"Could you elaborate on that?" Rosalie asked crossing her arms, she didn't like that there was another telepath, and this one could alter thoughts enough to block a newborn's thirst.
"For example, right now I am finishing up with Henry's barriers, speaking with this family, and keeping track of Madison's mind. Not invading her thoughts, just her physical presence in case there is danger. When I split my focus like this, I create splinters of my psyche; they are often just a portion of my personality depending on the situation. This one speaking to you is fairly basic and without access to my underlying emotions. I thought I would be done by now." Angela's monotone shifted on the last word as her normal emotive voice came back, "and I'm done. How do you feel, Henry?"
"Despite hearing the wind picking up and brustling of trees, the little animals in their den sleeping and the absolutely atrocious music some teenager is listening to about four blocks away I feel perfectly normal."
"I think that's actually Hailey, she's doing something on her computer." Eliza said as she attempted to follow Henry's sonic path.
"And mom is just giving you the top level of it, basically she was here with us but to make sure she does stuff right she is in other places too. When I was going through transition, it was like she was there the entire time holding my hand." Zoey said, tensely defending Angela, and giving Charlie a flash of anger. He sighed and nodded at her, their silent exchange causing Zoey to relax slightly.
"I can attest to that, Angela and I have been having a grand conversation this entire time. I never quite realized how vast a vampire mind can be." Henry confirmed, looking over at a woman who appeared half his age but seemed to hold endless experience to converse with. While common for vampires, he was also touched by how thoughtful she was with the process, explaining each step and making sure he was prepared and comfortable with everything. Compared to the almost robotic exchange he just heard, it was no wonder that Charlie was frustrated.
"That is a family sized can of worms to try and swallow, I think we should probably get back to the sheep because this meeting will never cover what we need to cover at this rate." Eliza said looking back up at her mom who was starting to look a bit agitated.
"Carlisle served as a doctor for a Northern regiment." Esme offered Jasper who was still near the fireplace brooding. Adara was clearly keeping a careful distance from him, which did not seem to be helping matters for him.
"I didn't know that." Jasper said with mild surprise, looking over and giving Esme a sad smile.
"He told me once, he never wanted to step on your stories." Esme returned his smile, and tried not to get upset again.
"Are you okay mom?" Rosalie asked, moving over to pull Esme into a side hug.
"I will be. I'm mourning a life that wasn't even real. For Carlisle to choose him first, I suppose that makes sense but it hurts regardless." Esme didn't sound as upset as she felt and wasn't sure what that meant.
"He loved Edward above us all, his first child, and in a way his only child. I don't think he ever viewed the rest of us as his children." Jasper knew it was the wrong thing to say but he was hurting and wanted to lash out, even if he was finally voicing something that had always bothered him.
Esme shook slowly, "as hard as it is to admit out loud I think you're right Jasper. He did not love all of you in the same way, that is true. I did, you were all my children, but Carlisle never really felt comfortable with the additions to our original family dynamic. I was his wife and Edward was his son. Then… actually, that is something I've been meaning to say for a very long time. Rosalie, when I sent Carlisle out that night you were turned, he was just supposed to watch from afar and make sure you were safe. When he brought you home in transition, I was deeply surprised and I still don't entirely know why or how that happened." Esme turned to her daughter, and Rose turned and sat on the backrest of the couch facing her with her full attention.
"I suppose that makes sense, but why me?" Rosalie shook her slightly, trying to absorb that Carlisle hadn't just stumbled upon her as she always assumed. Esme took in a breath before starting, knowing this might change how Rosalie felt about their relationship.
"I first saw you at a Pavilion dance, we spoke in passing but we were not introduced. I felt an odd connection to you, like I could feel the future with you as my daughter. Or maybe I was just sensing that we were kindred spirits. My observations of you that night told me everything else I needed to know about you. You were patient with your mother, kind with all the many men who wanted to dance with you and tireless as you spent hours spinning from hand to hand. Then, when your mother introduced you to Royce I had a very bad feeling. I felt I had to make sure you were alright by him, he almost smelled evil. I had never intended to turn you, but like Carlisle choosing Edward you were my choice. I believe Carlisle thought of you as a bride for Edward, but I only ever thought of you as a daughter without any pretense or qualification. I would've been happy for you to have lived a normal human life." Esme paused to let Rose take in the series of events before continuing.
Rosalie was at a loss for words, she had known about Carlisle needing to rescue her as per his nature, but she hadn't known that Esme was already attached. It felt like a revelation, she wasn't a mistake. She wasn't just a pitiable victim, taken in because of happenstance. It shifted something deep down that she hadn't realized had been balled up inside. A self loathing combined with a lack of value from her 'parents'.
Isabella surveyed the room, and found most were happy with this piece of news. While almost everyone was clearly upset by Angela's strange mental issues and Jasper admiting his romance with an ex-slave, mostly they were thrown by the violence and anger that Esme displayed. Isabella felt something very different, a sense of almost overwhelming gratitude. In one utterly selfless action, Esme had restored everything that had once been broken. Yet more than that, as much as Esme had shown how much Isabella meant to her, Rosalie was also Esme's daughter, fully and completely now that this revelation was out in the open.
Isabella had let Esme into her heart again, as the mother she should have always been, and by association this created a bond with Rosalie that was unmistakable. They shared a mother, which in turn made them sisters. Also given every single word of support Rosalie had uttered in the short time they had interacted, this was not the same antagonistic woman that had made her life miserable back a hundred years ago. Isabella looked over at Rosalie, not even three feet away and found her staring back. Rose flashed a warm smile at her, and Isabella nodded once in return.
"There are a lot of us here, and perhaps we should go around and figure out how this all works. I know a lot of us have gifts and kind of know each other's names, but perhaps a formal introduction would be appropriate." Charlie said standing up in front of the television.
Isabella nodded and stepped up to the front. Standing in front of everyone gathered she surveyed the room, meeting each of their eyes. It was a strange thing to consider that this would be a coven if she so desired it, and a group of people living as a family. She wondered if she had enough left to extend to such a family? Love left to have a mother and father, sisters and brothers and a niece that she desperately wanted to get to know. This was more than she had ever had as a human, with her modest eighteen years spread between two single parents.
"I guess we should start with me. Although I seem to be a catalyst for all of us, that was never my intention. I just wanted some peace and perhaps normalcy with my daughter. To finish my mission with the Volturi, but that is not in the cards. So, you all know me, my name has changed over the years; I was born Isabella Marie Swan, I grew up and called myself Bella. That name died in cabin north of here ninety-five years ago when Victoria took me and tortured me before throwing me in a hole for a decade. When I emerged, I found my way to the Volturi, in an attempt to end my life. They made a different choice. They made me an enforcer, which I took to very quickly and very easily. Within those first three years Marcus named me his first daughter, inducting me into the coven as a princess. A sullen, angry, violent princess known as Isabella of Volterra. Just after that I found Eliza, half dead from brutal experimentation done by her biological father, Joham. We bit each other, turning one another into something else. When we awoke, she looked like me. We have no real explanation for what happened, but soon after we emerged from this transformation we realized that our relationship was one of parent and child. Eliza became my daughter, and I her mother. So that is me. No longer a Volturi. Just Isabella."
"My god." Jasper said as he ran his hand over his face. Everyone stared at her in shock save for Alice who was intently looking at her if she needed support, Eliza and Brianna who already knew the story and Angela who took a deep breath and headed up to the front. Her face was different, full of emotion and a touch of fear. To everyone present it was a notable and welcome difference.
"After hearing that… well it puts things in perspective. I was born Angela Christina Webber, my father was a minister and my mother a school teacher. I had twin baby brothers, and a good life. I met Isabella when I was seventeen, and I think we should've been best friends. I knew her father, we all did, Charlie Swan was our Chief of police. A good man, who always tried to do right by his community. That last year of school was hard on all of us. Especially watching Isabella struggle after you all left so suddenly. It was heartbreaking, but then she seemed to recover a bit towards graduation. Only to disappear. I never got to graduate, neither did Isabella. I was visiting Seattle colleges with my boyfriend Ben when Victoria came. She never touched me, except to bite me. No, instead she tortured Ben, in front of me, for days, for pleasure. When I completed my transformation into a vampire, he was my first victim."
Isabella shut her eyes tightly, knowing her old friend she knew it was the perfect torture. Someone as selfless and kind as Angela would've happily taken the torture onto herself first before letting anyone else suffer. To endure that must've been as destructive as her own torture, which had become a shared trauma. She was about to commiserate with her when Angela cleared her throat to continue.
"I killed my way through fourteen people before my gift manifested. It wasn't in time to stop the slaughter, but it was enough to gain control of my impulses. I fled, and not really capable of rational thought, I went home. Charlie stopped me from descending on my human family, his own gifts giving him a level of restraint as well. We went on a hunt then, for years we searched for Victoria. She always managed to stay ahead of us. Eventually we settled in Chicago, I found Zoey as a girl, one of the only survivors of a random nomad attack, and took her in and tried my best to love her as my daughter. So, that's me. Angela Webber, now Angela Swan. Adopted daughter of Charlie, adoptive sister to Isabella and mother to Zoey."
Zoey stood and moved to her mom and gave her a hug before gently pushing her off stage. "I'm Zoey, and mom tends to understate things. She didn't just take me in and assume the role of mother. She saved my life and the lives of my brother and sister. Then she raised me, loved me unconditionally, and showed me how to fight and survive when all I wanted was revenge against two vampires that had been turned to ashes when I was still a child. A couple of days ago I was turned by a maniac that once claimed to be my mom's friend. Now I haven't been tortured or abused, my human family was generally good to me, although as the youngest I was frequently forgotten, and mom… Angela has only ever shown me love. But I vividly remember hearing my parents being slaughtered, and the gleeful way they taunted them and my siblings. I'm lucky to have landed where I did, and I need you to know how grateful I am for everything mom."
"I know love." Angela said, patting the seat next to her. Zoey sat down and crossed her arms feeling some eyes on her, including Rosalie who stood and took a deep breath.
"I don't speak about my past much, but I should probably clear the air a bit. Isabella, I want to formally apologize for my behavior back when you were first with us. I was a brat, really, inexcusably hostile for reasons that I probably couldn't have explained back then. It took me a long time to realize what was eating at me, and by then it was far too late to make amends, so I hope I can now. See, when I was human, all I wanted was to find someone who loved me, and to build a family with them. Grow old, have lots of silly kids and die surrounded by the generations of family that came from that love."
"That didn't happen of course, I was found instead by a horrible man named Royce. While we were courting he treated me fairly I guess, but there were these moments where I wasn't sure who I was involved with. Then came that night, I was walking home from an errand and passed by a watering hole that Royce frequented. To be honest, I walked by that place to see him. He wasn't there, no he was hanging out with some friends a block away and whistled at me to get my attention. I won't go into details right now, but suffice it to say, I was brutalized and broken when they were done with me. Carlisle found me like that, bleeding and left for dead in a gutter and turned me."
"I didn't know it was that bad." Isabella said, her jaw clenching.
"I think you win in trauma comparison, but what I really came up here to say is I was angry with you. At first I thought it was because you were choosing this life over your humanity. But after Edward told us you had actually chosen a human life, I was still angry at you." Isabella raised an eyebrow in curiosity, she had no idea where Rosalie was going with this. "I have only really talked with Alice about this, but I have come to realize that you were, and hopefully still are, my sister. I love you Isabella. I love Eliza, Brianna. You, and everyone else here are the family I always wanted."
"How did Rosalie just brighten the room?" Eliza said with a big grin, but there were the signs of tears in the corners of her eyes. "Okay, so maybe we should stop with the big emotional introductions for now. I'm kinda feeling overwhelmed."
"Probably a good idea, but there are some things we need to work out. Specifically, we need to define what this is? From Rosalie's lovely declaration here, I can assume we consider each other family to an extent, which is something I never thought I would entertain." Isabella said with a bit more emotion and life in her voice than usual. Her stance was still rigid and her arms were crossed over her chest tightly. She felt a bit hollow, also overwhelmed by the gathering before her. She gave Rosalie a pointed look, but soft and thankful and Rose in turn gave her a happy nod. She was still a bit hesitant to call most of the Cullens family, but at the same time their loyalty and love was clear. "Perhaps the familial connections need to be developed over time, to figure out how we fit in each other's lives. However, a coven is sounding like a good idea. Something formal, and I honestly don't even know where to start with the logistics of that."
"Historically, Coven formation is a private affair. Usually a group votes for both the general hierarchy and leadership roles or sometimes a dominant type takes control of the group usually by force. Although most covens are nameless, the larger covens are generally referred to by their location. Usually identified by their city of origin or in some cases a nationality." Henry offered, he had one hand to his chin and looked comfortable with his right leg draped over his left. He was still adjusting to his new existence but he wasn't entirely unhappy with the changes so far. Especially since he had his mind clear, no matter how much the beast inside was pounding against the walls of the mental barriers Angela created.
"So we just say we're a coven and we are one?" Brianna asked the group in confusion. "That seems too easy."
"Yes, it is that easy. Although I believe there has to be at least three members traditionally, and most covens are not recognized by the Volturi until there are at least four members." Talia added, glancing around the room and finding herself lingering on Angela's face for a second longer than the rest. She couldn't understand why, but she felt drawn to her. She chalked it up to base attraction and tried to ignore the feeling building in her gut, but couldn't help but steal another look towards her before turning back towards Isabella.
"We don't have that problem, and do we even need to worry about Volturi recognition?" Adara was shaking her head, not sure how to unpack everything.
"No, as far as I'm concerned the Volturi are utterly irrelevant, save for their eventual annihilation." Isabella said coldly, the chilly tone to her voice was not directed at anyone in particular but the entire room felt her calm fury.
"I'm gonna ignore that for a moment." Charlie said with a heavy sigh. "So I guess we need to figure out leadership."
"And a name, because I do not want to be associated with cutlery." Eliza scrunched up her nose in distaste.
"I vote for Isabella." Emmett said almost immediately, looking at her with a big goofy grin.
"Thank you Emmett, but maybe we should figure out who even wants to lead." Isabella actually managed a small smile of appreciation for the one Cullen she never really held a grudge against.
"Perhaps, but leadership is a strange position for our kind. It is primarily about making choices, but I cannot impress enough that strength also plays a part in it. Not just internally, to keep the heightened instincts and emotions of the coven in check, but to enforce rules and resolve disputes in an efficient and final way. As far as I have seen, you are by far the strongest among us." Henry interjected, and it took Isabella back a bit. "Not to mention our outward appearance, a leader who can show our strength will often cut off potential conflicts with other covens."
"I don't say this lightly, but that does actually sound like you Isabella. I'm honestly terrified of you." Jasper said with a somewhat playful smile, but it was clear he was also being completely honest.
"Any other candidates want to throw their hat in the mix?" Isabella asked, realizing that she was about to get the job even though she didn't really want it.
There was silence for several seconds as everyone thought about the question. Most of the Cullens had no interest in leading, and the ones that did, Jasper and Rosalie, were not sure the dynamics would work in their favor. Charlie didn't feel good about leading anything anymore, and Angela knew she wasn't particularly suited to that kind of role. Henry had no experience in a group, having lived a life of solitude after the death of his wife from cancer two decades earlier. That left Eliza and Talia and neither had any inclination towards leadership. Brianna and Zoey just sat and waited for the vote, neither even considering themselves.
Alice chuckled, and then nudged Isabella whispering, "you're it love."
"Alright, I'll do this if I have everyone's confidence." Isabella said with raised eyebrows. "A hand vote will do." She looked around the room as every hand in the room raised. "Good. I'll need a second who is less combat oriented and more diplomatic. I'm thinking Esme, Dad, Talia, Rosalie or Henry."
"I would prefer to learn about myself first, living in a group dynamic such as this is new for me." Henry said, shaking his head and Isabella nodded in understanding.
"While I will absolutely contribute advice and as much guidance as possible, I do not think I should be in any sort of leadership position right now. There is too much baggage associated with it." Esme reluctantly admitted she had been Carlisle's second in a de facto kind of way. But she never felt all that comfortable being the face of the coven.
"I'm still new to all of you, so I would need time to acclimate. I'll do it if no one else wants to though." Charlie said with a shrug, he barely knew the extended Cullen family and still held a bit of animosity towards them.
"I'll do it." Rosalie said with a confidence that she didn't quite feel deep down. It was a major change, but all of this was different and it would take time to sort everything out.
"Good, then it's settled. We just need a name." Isabella said looking around the room.
"I was totally overthinking it, and it's kind of obvious. I had considered the Goddess Isabella Coven or the Goddess Eliza Coven but that seemed a bit on the nose." Everyone looked at her in curiosity and mild amusement.
"I like the Goddess Brianna Coven." Brianna added with a big goofy smile.
"I like that one too." Rosalie said, smiling back at her.
"Me too." Eliza gave Brianna a side hug and they shared a small giggle together. "Okay, so ultimately I think we should be named The Swan Coven, it just makes the most sense. There are six of us here that are Swans and I hope the rest of you like it enough to follow along."
"I think it's ironic to go by the name Swan when we have one of the scariest vampires in the world leading it, but I think it's pretty." Adara said hoping to draw a bit of a laugh and was happy when most of the room at least let out a small chuckle.
"I have never really gone by the name Cullen, so it doesn't bother me at all to use Swan." Jasper added. The other Cullens all seemed to be okay with it as well.
"I'm honored." Charlie said feeling a swell of pride.
"I haven't used the name Swan in a very long time, but it is my name. Isabella Marie Swan. That brings me to a happy subject, I think this might be the right time to formally introduce my daughters; Elizabeth Renee Swan and Brianna Esme Swan." Isabella let out a rare genuine smile of affection. Esme and Charlie both made a small gasping sound, followed by a startled look from both Eliza and Brianna. Brianna started to cry and stood up so fast that the air snapped like a whip. "Alice will call in the paperwork if the names are okay."
"Okay… mom I don't know what to say." Eliza stood and pulled her sister close. Brianna couldn't speak, feeling utterly overwhelmed by the sentiment.
"Mine is okay!" Brianna said, rushing forward and almost tackling Isabella, sobbing heavily into her chest. Isabella shut her eyes on her own tears and hugged her daughter tightly. It felt right for the first time, calling her daughter. Until that point it had felt forced, unsure. She then looked at Alice who was with Eliza, their closeness made Isabella's heart swell, and it made up her mind about three things.
First, Alice needed to be brought into their family officially.
Second, there was a part of her mind that still wanted to hurt Alice, and she still wasn't sure how big a part that might be.
And third, she was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with her.
"Alright, maybe we should talk about the elephant in the room." Jasper said a bit out of nowhere, drawing everyone's attention. "What are you? Because you are not a vampire like us."
Isabella shook her head, "I don't know exactly. When I was out from the explosion, I had a vision of what I can describe as the goddess of death that said I was a true vampire. Whatever that means."
"If that is the case, wouldn't it make sense to turn the rest of us like you did with Talia here?" Adara suggested, which drew several nods in agreement.
"Maybe, but I don't know the ramifications. I suppose we could test it, but that may be quite dangerous." Eliza shrugged, she hadn't tried it herself but it had merit as a possibility. Although a part of her was a bit reluctant to share what made them special.
"I volunteer." Angela said without hesitation.
"Mom, are you sure?" Zoey asked with a worried expression.
"I just completed Henry's mental barriers, and given my gift I may be perfectly suited for the change. More to the point I am too alien, I think I've been stone for far too long." Angela's plea reached Isabella, and she was about to agree when Charlie started to shake his head.
"I don't know Angela, you may be too valuable a resource to risk. What if the change diminishes your gift." Charlie said, partially because he was worried about her power. But he was also worried what would happen to his daughter, not wanting her to be a guinea pig and willing to look like the bad guy to protect her.
"Also, and I hate to put too fine a point on this but shouldn't it be Rosalie? She is now our second, and it would make sense to have a shared power." Emmett said backing up his wife, mostly because he knew what the change might do for her.
"If it means that I can have some semblance of my humanity back, I would be willing." Rosalie said after mulling it over for a second.
"Perhaps this should be tabled for a later time." Henry suggested, but Jasper shook his head.
"I don't think so, if we have threats coming from every side, which is exactly what it feels like, we need power. If we can even partially match your power Isabella, it would make tactical sense to turn us all." Jasper resorted to his military mind, but knew he had a point that was hard to argue against.
"Point, alright then. Angela, while I feel you have a valid request, Jasper is right it should be Rosalie. I promise if this works you will be next on the list." Isabella made it decisive, and while she hoped Angela wouldn't get upset by the choice she couldn't take that into account when making her decision.
"Alright. If you'll excuse me I need time to meditate and get my mind back in order. I have taxed my ability far too much in the last few days." Angela said with a small nod towards Isabella, then left without another word.
"She'll be fine, she gets like that sometimes." Charlie said with a shrug, looking after her. Zoey wanted to get up and follow but Charlie held her back. No one noticed Talia slipping out the back.
"With that, I believe this meeting has come to an end, Rose please hold back so we can talk." Isabella used a relatively flat authoritative voice, but flashed her a somewhat warm smile. Rosalie nodded easily, and waited until everyone left before turning to Isabella.
"Let's go for a walk, I guess we have some things to talk about." Rosalie suggested, and Isabella nodded and followed her out the door into the wilderness behind the house. Woods Isabella hadn't walked since she wandered through them after the Cullens left a hundred years before.
Author's Notes:
I wanted to call out Wallflower who has written several absolutely wonderful comments. I would be remiss not to also thank everyone who takes the time to jot down their thoughts on any given chapter. I read them all and I always appreciate them!
I was originally going to have two more scenes in this chapter but as I got through the edit of this long conversation I realized that this was the chapter so I moved those smaller chunks to the next chapter.
So there was some curiosity about the bigger threats in some recent notes. I wanted to give you my thoughts without going into specifics or details. So here is how I view the villains within the larger context of the story. Which also means I get to do a short silly comparison of wildly different characters that share a kind of similar context…. Yay.
This may be ever so slightly spoilery, so if you don't want to know anything don't read below.
So, if you would excuse the somewhat stretched parallels here is my short answer of how the villains fit into this story using Game of Thrones as a shorthand.
Edward is basically Geoffry, he is a hot headed overtly evil antagonist that you just want to strangle. He is far too annoying to last long term.
Victoria, for lack of a better comparison is Ramsay Bolton who is cruel and vindictive and actively hurts our characters. While most of this was in the past, she is one of those villains you can't wait to see gone but want a really really satisfying and cathartic death for her.
The Volturi are the more interactive villains like Cersei, Tywin and Walder Frey who betray and backstab and you just want them gone because they are far too duplicitous to trust but have some value because of the largest threat.
Which is Joham who is very clearly the Night King with his hordes of vampires and shifters which parallel easily with White Walkers. They are the existential threat that is out there and coming and we don't really know what they are planning or how big of a threat they really are.