A/N: Seriously playing with the past for everyone and giving the Volturi prior involvement with the Originals. xx 'Oh This Is The Real Me' reached 40,000 hits thanks guys xx Alexis
I slap my hand firmly over my mouth, so I don't make any sound. He's calling the Volturi; he has Caius Volturi on speed dial! I have no idea where this is going and I'm a little afraid to be perfectly honest! This was not the reaction to my story I expected, not in the slightest.
"Elijah this is unexpected, to say the least. How can we, the Volturi help you?" I heard the high pitched voice of Aro Volturi say,
"I have recently taken a young lady under my protection and auspices. I want your assurance that all interest in her from the Volturi, will now cease and desist from this moment on. She was pulled into your world under the thrall of two of your Cold Ones!
I clearly remember we had this discussion with you all in the past. It is addictive to humans who are not your prey, having a devastating long-term effect and you said it would be outlawed. Do I need to inform Niklaus you lied to us, you know how he feels about that and of course, you?" Elijah said smoothly,
I could hear them shifting in their thrones at this threat, who exactly was his brother, Niklaus? Why are the Volturi afraid of him? Just how much more powerful than the Volturi are the Originals?
"No, no need for that! I'm sure this was just a one-off thing! Possibly a couple of younger vampires who were unaware of our ruling on the matter. The young lady's name, if I may have it?" Aro simpered sickeningly,
"Isabella Swan!" Elijah said bluntly and there were intakes of breath and a couple of growls,
"I told you there was no bond to that useless boy, Aro! She had no bond to the female who brought her here either! The Cullens have brought the Originals down on us! When will you put a stop to that fool Carlisle?" Marcus Volturi yelled, I'd never even heard his voice before today, he was incensed,
"Calm yourself, Marcus. You have to understand Elijah; Isabella knows our secret and should have been changed by now! We were only insuring our existence was not in jeopardy!" Aro now tells Elijah and he's getting irritated,
"Aro! You were warned to control your species or Niklaus will! Vegetarian Vampires are one thing; we have the control your kind clearly lacks. But vegetarian Cold Ones that is beyond ridiculous and downright dangerous! It was not Isabella flouting your laws, but Edward and Alice Cullen, deal with them or I will, personally!" Elijah growls now and I see a little of the vampire he is, in his face,
"Not the other's then, the Major is not a party to this? Emmett, Rosalie and Esme. What of Carlisle?" Caius now asks, looking to get the others in trouble to I think,
"The McCarty's helped Isabella escape Edward and Alice's clutches. I will be thanking them personally for that, in due course. The Major I doubt would be party to anything so underhand from what I've heard of him.
I have no idea about Mrs Cullen, but Carlisle Cullen sounds like a fool to me and should be curbed. They went to High School with her Aro! High School! Why on earth would a Cold One want or need to go there? Other than to glamour school children! Is this what your species has stooped to since we last met?" Elijah now replies and there is silence on the line,
Did they think he knew nothing about them? Are all Cold Ones delusional? But by his speech, Elijah saved the other Cullens from the Volturi's wrath. My phone vibrates and it's a text from Peter Whitlock,
'He's dealin' with his mate Alice, personally or should I say the Major is! PW'
I lean over and show it to Elijah and he smirks once again, but it's slightly more evil than before,
"We've just been informed that the Major is at present dealing with his mate; I can only imagine how that will go down! So that only leaves the other fool for you to deal with. Do so right away! I don't want to have to involve Niklaus, but I will if I have to deal with Edward myself!" Elijah says breaking the silence and then cuts the call.
IOOH
I have a text on my phone from an unknown number, ah it's Carlisle. I wonder what happened to his phone?
'It's done! I'm afraid to face you because I deserve your censure. But please believe me when I say I love you x Carl'
I could be angry and annoyed, Rose says I should be. But that would waste more time, he's made the choice I prayed he would. I don't see the point of holding grudges and casting things up from years ago, that was Edward's style, not mine! I would rather start from now and be the couple we always should have been. I know for a fact he'll have more bother with Emmett and Rose, funnily enough, more him than her! As much as I'll miss Jasper, I can't help but think that no Alice will also be a good thing. A coven of four is all we need and I want Carlisle to take a step back and let them run the show. We can be the ones jetting off for holidays for once.
My first job will be to pack up everything belonging to all three and send them on to them. The personal things I mean, like books and the collectibles. But not the clothes or technology, we haven't been here for thirty years or so. It's outdated and basically vintage. So that I will sell and recoup the money, I don't intend to waste thousands on fashion anymore either. It's time to be ourselves, not Alice or Edward's versions, but our own.
"Rose dear, do you want the same room or like me think it's time for a change?" I say smiling and she's beside me in an instant,
Alice usually took over and told us where we wanted to go. Picked the colour schemes and basically ran our life for us. God, how pathetic were we that we just stood back and let it all happen?
"We'll take Ed..., the big room and maybe just upgrade the plumbing in there! Is that okay?" she asks tentatively,
Yes, that's fine. Carlisle and I will take Alice's old suite and knock the two studies together for Carlisle. I can expand the room by getting rid of that ridiculous oversized walk-in closet. Our old suite can be for guests and yours for when and if they ever visit. How does that sound?" I ask and she's smiling now too,
"Great, now let's talk colours while we clear out all the closets! We can make several piles, keep, sell, thrift and bin! You're absolutely sure he'll come home to you, aren't you?" Rose said excitedly and we walk off arm in arm.
"Yes dear, I have faith that he's made the right choice," I say strongly, but, I already knew he had,
Now he needed to convince them he could change and be a better person.
IOOH
Again, how is this possible? If this was anyone else I'd think they were sending me on pointless journeys. However, Isabella and her father are human and aren't that clever! So I'm at a loss to understand what's going on here! Her truck is here, but it is getting overhauled and put into storage the paperwork says. Think Edward, I berate myself, what was happening before she left? Jasper was all irate; Alice submissive, Rose was sending a jeep to Memphis, that's it! How could I not realise, she's gone to Memphis? I just need to track down the dealer and find out who picked it up. At last, I am finally making some headway. It's infuriating she has evaded me for five weeks now.
I will be punishing her severely for this; she's making me look a fool! Me, Edward Masen her owner, how dare she!
IOOH
"Demetri, the location of all the Cullens, if you please" Marcus demands and everyone's heads turn to him,
"Yes Sir. Major Whitlock and his mate are in the wilds of Nevada. Esme Cullen, along with Rosalie and Emmett McCarty are in Canada. Carlisle Cullen is heading in that direction from Washington. Finally, Edward Masen is leaving Colorado Springs, heading unknown at present. The coven seems to have fractured at present" Is his concise report and all three brothers nod their heads,
"Assemble a team Demetri; bring that fool back here quickly. Oh, where exactly is Isabella Swan anyway?" Caius asks now and Demetri looks slightly confused,
"I don't actually know Master, I've never been able to pinpoint her location," he says shame-faced,
"Damn it! Her shield, we're losing a great gift to the Originals!" Aro huffed petulantly,
"It's a small price to pay, if Elijah sends his brother we will all die! He barely stopped him the last time if you don't remember! Tidus, paid the price for your arrogance at our last meeting or have you forgotten my brother and his fifty strong guard's sacrifice, that easily?" Caius spat at Aro so vehemently he actually flinched,
"I remember Caius; we all remember what that savage beast did! He is unforgettable, unfortunately" Aro said barely above a whisper,
Demetri excused himself and gathered a team to apprehend the mind-reader. None of the Elite guard had met the Originals but they had heard of them. Although they were only mentioned in subdued whispers, over the years. But now they had surfaced or at least one had and where one was the others would eventually follow, that seemed to be the pattern in the past. An involuntary shudder ran down his spine, he never wanted to meet Niklaus Mikaelson, ever!
IOOH
"Oh dear, Mary Alice, you don't learn by your mistakes do you? Without your gift, you're next to useless, how does that feel? I'm not Jazz, I'm nothin' like him. He's calm, I'm chaos! He's kind, I'm brutal! But this situation you're in now is what you have brought to pass, you and Edward. Funny you never saw it comin' or did you and you ignored it?" I demand of my sobbin' mate,
She had in less than three weeks tried my patience so many times she now only has the clothes she has on her back. All her expensive crap has been shredded to nothin' by me and still, she can't accept this is her reality now. I have brought her to the most godforsaken place I could think of. There are no people, no animals, nothin' for so many miles. We only have bagged animal blood and I have rationed it and she is startin' to crack. I will break her, it sounds cruel I know. But she needs to start from scratch and learn to be a vampire. Not a human, not a vampire pretendin' to be a human, but an actual vampire! So I'm startin' with some psychology.
"Do you remember when we met? You were so full of life and happiness, Jazz couldn't resist the cocktails of emotions you gave him. Oh and the never endin' hope! Yes, that drew him to you more than any other emotion. But you lied, that hope was for you and not him. It was only ever about you wasn't in Mary Alice?
At first, he was happy to let you have your head and get the need for materialistic things out of your system. He believed you deserved it after your rough start, not as rough as ours, but he wanted you to have it all. But you never did get past that phase, he thought you, his mate would change the world with your gift.
Seeing the future could bring so much good to vampire and humankind alike! But no, you predicted fashion trends and ways to make you more money. You turned out to be a mediocre, greedy and vain charlatan, which was when he started to pull away. You were both passionate and lovin' in the beginnin', then we joined the Cullens and you let them dictate how to treat your mate.
A boy who knew nothin' of love or mates. A man who ignored his own mate, for a boy who didn't deserve anyone's time. You conformed to a life of a human, somethin' you were not. We drew apart and you didn't stop to think that wasn't right. You helped them to undermine Jazz at every turn. You failed as a vampire and as a mate!
That's the reason it's me here now and not him, he has lost the will to try and change you. He has lost that spark of life, that flame you have slowly extinguished. I am embarrassed to be your mate; he is beyond disenfranchised by you. We are ashamed to have others know you are our eternity! Jazz now believes you are his punishment! Why else would fate give us a rapacious, egotistical and obnoxious mate?" I say to her now, pullin' no punches,
I walk away as she gasps at what she heard and squirms on the ground in mortification. I keep walkin' until I can no longer hear her as she wails in pain, knowin' her mate barely likes her anymore. Our bond is not broken, but it is stretched to the limit and she is mainly to blame, but we too allowed it to happen. I make a decision for the first time in weeks. This will not stop until Alice sees the light, how long that is, is up to her!
IOOH
"Now that those fools are dealt with, let's talk about these attacks. When and where did this happen?" I asked Isabella,
It seems more than coincidence that she should suddenly become a target. Did someone see our connection through an omen or were they scrying for information on us? I know they hate us in particular, get rid of an Original and you get rid of all their line and some of us were less discriminating than others! Kol for instance killed as many as he turned, he had severe trouble keeping his bloodlust in check. The longer we lived the less humans we changed, but our changelings were not so selective and built themselves empires, armies and cults. All intent in being the only line, but Klaus is determined we all survive, even if he has to keep us daggered and hidden to do it!
"Well the first time I felt my barrier or whatever it is being prodded, I think that's what it was. I don't know how to explain it better! Teresa and I were at the market and I felt it around us both" she huffed annoyed with herself,
"Isabella, it's called a shield and someone was trying to breach your mind. Obviously, the shield stopped them, so since then they are probing you I think, looking for a way in" I explained as best as I could and she sighed,
"Yes, that's it exactly, but it only really reacts to witches. Because Edward couldn't read my mind and he tried, he really tried, but I felt nothing. Alice used to see me clearly, but I knew how to work around her gift, it was decision-based. After they left I decided I didn't want her seeing me at all, ever again!
I never tried or felt I needed to block Jasper, he always made me feel good about myself and he told me I was worth it! Oh, Aro couldn't read me either and Jane's pain thingy did nothing to me, but took Edward down with no trouble" she told me in such a humble tone, she was amazing and couldn't see it,
"A very powerful shield for a human. So it was strictly mental until you reach New Orleans?" I asked now,
"Yes, because if it had been physical back then I wouldn't have gotten this or this!" Isabella snarked and showed me a scar on her arm and dear God a bite on her wrist,
"How? That should have changed you! Does it hurt? Does it tingle at all?" I asked quickly to cover my anger,
"Edward sucked the venom out, he never wanted me changed, he wanted and still wants my blood! A nomad bit me; damn near killed me actually, Jasper and Emmett killed him. Not Edward or Carlisle and Jasper's going to kill the mate Edward said he didn't have, she's after me now, because of him!" she said in a resigned tone as if any of this was her fault,
"First, none of this is your doing, that boy is an infantile menace. Now, the bite, can I see it please?" I say to her and take her wrist in my hand,
Well, there is still venom in there because it's cold to the touch. But with no pain or tingling, it's not Edward's venom, but the dead nomads! I can remove it for her if she'll let me and then heal the wound without the unsightly bitemark.
"I can remove the venom of you'd like, it won't hurt much, just a bit of a scratch," I say rubbing my thumb over the scar,
"Can you, yes please, I hate it!" Isabella exclaims and I smile,
Placing a dish under her wrist I bite my own wrist and let it drip slowly into the bowl. Isabella gasps and then looks stunned.
"Blood normally makes me feel sick. I can smell it! The rusty iron scent turns my stomach. But yours smell good, for some reason" She says blushing,
I use her distraction to slice through the scar and wait. The venom rushes out and into the bowl after my much stronger, highly potent blood and immediately on contact dies in a purple vapour. Isabella was watching the bowl with rapt attention and didn't see me swipe my blood-dipped finger across the cut. It healed instantly and the scar is a tiny sliver now, barely noticeable. She looks at it and smiles beautifully, turning her wrist one way and then another. When she touches it a tear rolls down her cheek.
"Thank you, it feels like me again, not some alien part of my body. I really disliked touching it, it felt like it belonged to someone else and not me" she tells me sadly,
"I was! I was a marker if the nomad had survived. He would have been able to find you anywhere at any time he wanted" I explain, wondering how the Cold Ones didn't know that,
There wasn't enough of my blood in the cut to do more than heal it. But I really wanted there to be more, so much more. I don't think I can wait too long to talk about it, but we need to discuss the witches. I pour her a shot of brandy and tell her to drink it, she looks set to refuse.
"Please, brandy is very medicinal, internally and externally. Now back to the witches, when was the first attack?" I inform her before asking,
She goes into great detail and I admire her skill of observation and she laughs, saying,
"You know when everyone talks of dangerous situations, about time seeming to speed up. Well, for me it slows and I see everything in great detail!"
I think that may be her shield, like a defence mechanism. The more I learn about her the more I think she was meant to be a vampire, just not a Cold One!
IOOH
"Why does nothing work on her? What is she?" A very pissed off Witch asks her coven sisters,
"She's a human, but not an ordinary one that's all!" another replies smirking at the witch who was dunked in the river by Bella,
"So how do we stop her? She can't be allowed to protect him" demands another,
"We need to research and find out what that thing is! You have all but pushed her into his arms by attacking her without the full coven's approval!" says their leader angrily and they all nod and look away,
Some scry for information; some make potions to help them see through the veil. A couple evoke an incantation, hoping for outside help, others take to the coven's grimoire. But nothing seems to make sense. They can't grasp that Bella's shield is a natural phenomenon and not a spell or charm. Nobody gave it to her, she didn't learn it. Bella was born with it and it is now a sixth sense, it's just part of her genetic makeup. They have all become so dependent on their magic they don't recognise a natural gift when it's staring them in the face. Just like none of them thought to approach her first before attacking the unsuspecting human and failing miserably.
IOOH
I have debated just arriving in Canada, but I have so many fences to mend. I feel I must make contact first, especially with Emmett. Rose will shout and rant at me, but not much more, Emmett is a different story. He was never the fool I allowed Edward to portray him as. He is a far deeper thinker and has nothing to prove to anyone, unlike me! I would dearly love to blame all my failings on Edward, but that would be a lie! He exploited my weaknesses, yes, but they were my faults, to begin with. I never should have turned him; I never should have left Esme to her fate at the hands of that boorish man. I let everyone down by being weak, just as I was when I was human.
I let my father blame me for my mother's death, rather than stand up to him. He was as much to blame as I, he got her pregnant! I never once stopped him condemning innocent people of crimes they had not and could not commit. I was weak back then and it appears I just carried on into this life. I was never meant to be a leader; I'm too idealistic and easygoing. I made so many mistakes, some I can never fix, but many I can try too! So I will start with Emmett, he is the son any man would want. But I should never have insisted we be a family because that gave Edward the advantage he never should have had. If we'd been a coven, he would have been their equal. Once more I pull out my cell and make a hard call,
"Hello, Emmett McCarty speaking" he replied and I knew how far I'd fallen,
"Will you meet me, Emmett? I'm about ten miles out from the outer marker" I ask quietly, hoping he was a better man than me,
"Mum, Rose I'm going hunting!" I heard him call before he said, "I'm on my way"
IOOH
"Elijah! Why do I have this shield? Why am I different from other humans?" I ask him as he tidies away the bowl with his blood in it,
"Ah, I would hazard a guess that somewhere in your ancestry was a full-blown supernatural! It could have been many, many years ago and you are the first since to encounter our world once again" he says and I can see that would make sense,
I wasn't the first Swan drawn to the supernatural though, that was Molly Swan I think! She married into the tribe, didn't she?
"My Great Aunt Molly married into a tribe of shapeshifters as well!" I explain and he nods,
"Yes, it would appear you are all drawn to us, due to having a supernatural gene. I am guessing here, but it seems like a traditional was involved with your family tree at some point in history and not a Cold One or Werewolf" he says sitting beside me and taking my hand,
"So this shield, which I now find can protect my body, can be shared with others! So far just my aunt. Do the witches believe I can protect you? Was that why they attacked before we met? Seems odd to me, why not warn me off or make friends first? But they just started attacking!" I said less than amused with how they had gone about things,
"Some of the covens have young basically untrained witches in their ranks and they tend not to think first! I am sure there was hell to pay when the coven elders found out. They've tipped us off, with the attacks on you. So instead of keeping us apart, they brought us closer together.
That's such a rookie mistake, so I'm thinking this coven is younger, not as well established as others here in New Orleans! So it makes me wonder what exactly is their grudge. We, the Originals have many enemies sadly. They might be working for someone else, a traditional probably with an axe to grind!
Because their plans for our demise are usually better thought out and much longer-term" Elijah says and I shake my head, this is a lot to take in at one time,
"But is this an attack on your family in general or you in particular?" I enquire in confusion,
"I had no intention of returning here for a few more years, but felt suddenly drawn here, by you I think! So it's maybe because I've thrown a spanner in the works by turning up before they were ready for whatever they had planned" he mused,
"It all seems so complicated! There are lots of traditionals here; I've seen many since I arrived. So this has to do with your family in particular, but why?" I asked totally confused,
"Before we became vampires, we were witches. A family of very strong witches. Our own mother did this to us, to supposedly keep us safe. Be we couldn't use witchcraft after our change, but we know powerful magic. We understand and remember intricate ancient spells and the workings of a coven.
Hell, Klaus has our mother, Esther's Grimoire in his possession. If we gave any witch access to it they would be far stronger than the rest. It is really old, old magic from our homeland! They all want that book; Esther's knowledge is dangerous in the wrong hands, even a Mikaelson's!
We have plenty of enemies, it's friends we lack. But you Isabella, they are worried about you. Because if you could possibly protect me as a human, imagine what you could do as a traditional! That I think is their fear at present, that you could protect us all. I presume they will think I've compelled you to help me. I'm so sorry you have been dragged into this, but it's too late to change things now!" Elijah explained in a calm, slightly saddened tone,
I don't stop to think; I lean in and kiss his cheek saying,
"Yes, I believe it is too late to back away from each other. I know I don't want to and I hope I'm right in thinking you don't want to either? Oh, so what exactly is compelling?"
