Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Twilight movies or book series. That pleasure is not mine but S. Myers and Warner Bros. I just write for the fun of it!
A/N: This took a long time and many rewrites to get this right. I hope you in enjoy it!
Chapter Seven
Their travel out of state over the next hour was why Isabella is now sitting illegally in the first-class cabin with a private balcony. She was sailing on a cruise ship and curiously looking upon the creator of Caius. How did he know so much? And why was he snatched by Jeremiah in the first place? and of course, how did this have anything to do with her?
Why do all these vampires believe she was some born again mate of ancient times. Isabella did not feel old, wise maybe and yet, she was sure that more to do with her human life. Where she practically raised herself whilst looking after her mother.
But, if she was this Isa. Could that be the reason why she was so drawn to Jeremiah? Was his influence on her mind, less himself and more Isabella. A bond that transcends time? She could hardly believe it.
She was still staring at Gaius when he lifted his head and gave her such a warm smile. Her phantom heart gave a leap and she turned her head away, only to meet with caramel eyes. No longer the beautiful golden after their latest feed. How long before they both looked at each other with ruby red?
Jasper tilted his head and motioned to go for a walk. He was impatient to have his sister's thoughts on the last day.
They made their way outside and onto the dark balcony, dawn still hours away.
Jasper breathed a sigh of relief at the silence on deck.
Reaching the rail, he took a moment to look at Isabella. She was so strong, his brave and tenacious sister. Jasper had come to rely on her so much over the years, that seeing her now strain herself left him feeling hollowed out and ridiculously useless. Where was his great mind when his sister and only remaining family member needed him the most?.
"Are you okay, Isabella?" he asked turning towards her. Still keeping his voice low for he did not trust Gaius or his companions even if he had sensed nothing but honestly from them. Too many times have they been betrayed. His powers as an empath did not make Jasper a clairvoyant. 'That was his wife' he thought sadly.
Isabella rested her body against the railing and breathed the salty air in for a moment before replying. "I don't know Jasper, everything has changed again. I once more feel adrift as I did when…..
"I understand" Jasper reached out, discarding his previous thoughts as he ran a gentle hand down her arm. "this night has been a lot to take in. If you're able though? I would like to know what happened back in the warehouse".
Isabella tensed as the memory washed over her again in perfect clarity.
"Jeremiah happened, Jasper. He is far more powerful then I am and feels ancient beyond anyone we have encountered before, much older than even the Volturi or the Romanians! And there is something else. I can't explain it but he just feels more! of what? I am unsure".
Isabella hugged herself still feeling the shadow of his presence in her mind contained but not gone. "I was so trapped Jasper! Profoundly drawn to him and the illusions he drew. He thinks I am this Isa, his mate and I curse myself! Because even though I was fighting the illusion, Jeremiah himself felt so right and" she paused with the realisation " and for the small time I was there I knew he was mine" she finished softly hardly believing her own words.
Jasper frowned even as his hand drew circles upon Isabella's back. "You said he tried to rape you?"
Isabella huffed finding her confidence again. "Everything was a deception, Jasper. What I saw, what I touched and what I felt. I was his puppet on a string. Jeremiah spun a tale of ancient love and devotion to me, this Isa but none of it was real".
"Gaius seems to think so" Jasper responded.
"Gaius, Darius, Meredith bah! I don't know Jasper and it is frightening, for I don't feel like someone else other than myself and yet I have to question this insanity for so many others believe that I am this born again Isa".
Jasper hugged her trying to give her comfort. "You always be my clumsy human turned vampire sister Isabella and nothing we learn from here on out will change that".
Isabella turned in his arms. "Do you think it could be true Jasper?"
Jasper shrugged from habit "Stranger things have happened Sis. Are you being born over and over again? Trust me! after everything we have been through. I think that you being a born again and born as vampire with a soul is the least of our worries".
Isabella laughed unexpectedly "Oh Jasper!. If it is true, would it not be so grand to know a vampire soul exists. Carlisle would have been thrilled beyond belief and Edward, could you imagine the look upon his face" she laughed once more. "I would have finally won the most important argument of our life".
Jasper was shocked and amazed for Isabella has never expressed this much or spoken of their family and especially not Edward for years. Could it be her break down in the Olympic forest healed a wound unseen?.
"Jeremiah did something to me, Jasper" already guessing his thoughts. "He healed even as he tried to take from me what was not his to take. I am amazed that I can feel again and with every hour I can feel the coldness that has followed me these past years, leaving more emotions to return".
"Then, before I rip that bastard apart. I will make sure to thank him for such a gift, Sister".
Isabella laughed again warming Jasper from the inside. "Not if I get their first".
Jasper chuckled resting his head upon hers feeling content for the first time since Alice was not there to be found but instead a trap for Isabella.
"Do you think we should contact the pack?" Isabella asked some time later.
"No, I think we should not assume our current travelling companions would be agreeable to the mutts and I do not want to think about their terrible reaction to our new feeding habits is going to be. Jake especially!".
Isabella shuddered at her active imagination. "Yes your right, I don't think that would be a good idea".
Jasper sighed "It never will be. Still, perhaps you are right, once we are safe we should phone instead. They will eventually be suspicious but we can deal with that with time. In any case, they have the right to know what is going on".
"I am not entirely comfortable drinking from humans. I still fear turning into some ravenous creature by drinking their blood and yet it is strange for I have never felt more satisfied in my vampiric life".
"The thirst is not so bad on a traditional diet. I would say we vegetarians are the more ravenous for feeding".
"Don't I know it! I would have to take down ten lions, five bears and twenty deer to perhaps even fill this half satisfied"
"Just remember, Darling. There will be no kills from now on that don't deserve it. It is my promise to the both of us".
Isabella squeezed the arms around. "I will hold you to it, Brother".
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Sugar".
They both lapsed into silence again, their thoughts keeping them company. The silence was a respite from the drama of the evening and both knew that such quietness would be hard to come by in the hours ahead and so they took their time to enjoy it.
Hours of gentle waves and whispering air went by before they were joined by the rest of their company.
"This is where we get off before the humans see us on their morning shift" Gaius spoke.
Jasper untangled himself from Isabella and stood straight. "You mind telling us where we are going? I think it is about time you mention our destination. We have been beyond patient, don't you think?".
Gaius huffed "I was just about to tell you, inpatient youngling! I just finished booking the first evening flight out to Dallas from San Francisco. You see I have private property in Southlake just outside the city. We should be well protected there as I just happened to purchased said home while you two were busy talking. No one but the people here will know where it is and so Jeremiah will not know especially if Isabella can maintain her shield around the property".
Isabella sighed "As long it is my mental shield. I don't think I will have a problem".
"Good. We also will need to question Darius and destroy him before reaching our new residence. At the moment with his head detached, his brain is frozen. However, the moment we attach his head back to his body he will have a direct link back to the illusionist and I am not willing to put us in more danger if your shield breaks again, Isabella".
"We understand, but Isabella deserves as much time with Darius as we can give her" Jasper answered firmly.
"She will have it, I promise" Gaius affirmed before motioning them towards the edge.
They slipped off the ship with small splashes and sunk to the bottom of the ocean and started their walk to the mainland. After a few minutes Selene got a cheeky look on her face as she started to swing the bag with Darius's head. 'catch' she mouth as she tossed the bag away. Jonathan sprinting grabbed it before tossing it back at Gaius who flicked it to Roman, who head-butted it to Jasper.
Jasper caught it shaking his head at the silliness of this ancient coven but feeling strangely more comfortable at their attempts to ease the tension a little. He lifted the head like a volleyball and bashed it towards Isabella who smirked and flicked it back to Selene, who started the process once again for the remaining time underwater.
When they raised out of the water it was still dark with just the horizon lighting. The docks of San Francisco though were packed with the morning workers. It didn't bother them as they slipped through the shadows faster them the humans could blink.
"Our flight leaves at seven-fifteen tonight so we have the day. I have an apartment where we can freshen up and get a change of clothes. It is a Volturi safe house and so will have everything we will need, including some more blood for you Isabella" Gaius spoke once they were cleared from the docks.
"Is that safe – The Volturi have been chasing us for a while and we are not in the mood to be caught" Jasper spoke again for the both of them.
It was Roman who replied. "In America, The Volturi is run by Gaius and it has been that way since the great southern wars. Nothing will get back to the brothers unless Gaius wishes it to. You are safe from them young God of War".
That was news to them and they both turned their eyes to Gaius who was now running backwards with a boyish smile. "Sorry, did I forget to mention that?".
Isabella knew very well that he did.
Selene laughed and twirled." I wouldn't worry for as devious as the brothers can be. Aro has never bothered to enquire about you through us".
"Not to mention that you have nothing to fear from the Volturi. It is not your deaths they want but information about what happened to your family and well it is Aro's own directive that has many operatives working towards seeking you for answers. But, nevertheless, you can be assured that no one from the Volturi will come to the Americas without the approval from Gaius" Jonathan cut in smoothly.
"But Gaius has been in prison for all my vampire life according to him" Isabella spoke up. "How do you know who is here currently? And why would the brothers need Gaius permission?
"Roman, give her the tablet " Jonathan spoke ignoring the last of her comments.
Roman had reached into his bag and threw the device at Isabella, who caught it and cast her eyes upon the information shown.
She couldn't believe her eyes at the first file she read. "The Volturi operate as property moguls and have their own business platform through an app. That is so unlike what I pictured of these ancient men doing".
Gaius snickered "Funny Isabella, They are the ruling party of the Vampire world, who by their own rules must hide from the human race. Surely this can not be so strange for you. Your own Carlisle followed Marcus's plan to the letter in setting up his own property establishment. Granted Carlisle was a much smaller demographic of land but you get my point".
Isabella could but was still blown away. Because she had not wanted to see the Volturi has anything else but greedy power-hungry enforcers. The network of property on this app showed was immense and would have taken years according to some of the data, and so was the information that is provided on vacancy and stock each property held. Some were bases while others were nothing short of museums. From warehouses, city towers to single apartments and townhouses. Some were houses while others looked like farms. It was incredible! she thought, now looking around San Francisco. These last thoughts she had kept her going all the way into the city. 'Had she misjudged the Volturi?'.
When they arrived at the Volturi base it only took one passcode and they were all lifted up in a private lift to the penthouse suite. It was massive and so elegantly done in whites and gold marble. So modern as well with only small hints of the age of the owners through some of the artwork on the walls. 'It is such a nice place, Esme kind of nice' Isabella thought.
They all had a bathroom attached to a bedroom and Isabella was dying to have a shower to wash then evenings events away was the first one to bid her leave. The clothes in the closet were more like what she remembered seeing from the Volturi. She picked out a black winter dress with a silver belt, stockings and heels before grabbing a stylish dark green wool wrap jacket from the closet.
She blow-dried her hair and added some of the jewellery and sunglasses to put on later so that the humans at the airport didn't freak out anymore then they usually did when seeing a vampire.
When she came out into the lounge. Gaius was already sprawled on the couch looking rather like he belongs on the cover of Vogue, her mouth unintentionally watered at the sight.
Darius's head had been attached to his body and he was slowly coming around but without his arms and legs. He looked pitiful.
Gaius got off from the couch and come to her, picking up her hand and kissing the back. "You look beautiful Isabella. Are you ready my dear?".
"Gaius" Isabella breathed taking his hand "Are going to tell me the truth. What am I to you?"
He didn't answer at first just tugged at her hand and brought her closer to him. Gaius reached out and trailed his hand softly down her face before cupping her jaw.
"You are Isabella, of course. But this fact is not what you wanted to know. My dearest, I knew you once before now, if you can find it in your heart to believe. You have been my family, friend, and my haunting vision from the biggest heartbreak I have suffered in all my thousands of years".
"Bel?" Isabella question in whisper.
"She was much like you of course" Gaius eyes smiled as his mouth twitched. "Brave, adventurous, powerful, unbelievable gracious and the most caring women I have ever known" he paused losing his sparkle. "And she loved my brother, Theron for more then a 500 years from the very moment since he turned her. That was all true until Jeremiah took his life, to have yours".
"You said that she killed herself?" Isabella asked.
Gaius closed his eyes and breathed deeply taking in her ever so familiar scent.
"Five hundred years Isabella, can you think of what true love and devotion with a extremely good honest man could do?. A mate who treated her sublimely, gravitating around with Bel like he was the sun to her moon. It leaves a mark on a soul, I can tell you that honestly.
She was so happy with Theron and that bastard took it away from you with pure selfishness. Even when Isa remembered her past and Jeremiah as her mate. It didn't matter for she was torn between both men. Unable to forgive Jeremiah and unable to have Theron. She found her escape in death!".
"That is not true" whispered the dry voice of Darius. "Master Jeremiah was not selfish and at the time he had no reason to believe that Isa would care for Theorn past their mating for it has never happened before".
Gaius dropped his hands from Isabella and whirled around. "And, you would know so much about this? Are you so loyal to the master of lies that he would confide this to you Darius?.
Darius did not reply except for a sneer thrown towards him.
"Why then if your Bel was Jeremiah's mate was she able to leave him?" Isabella states as she took a step away from Gaius and moved to Darius. "Is it not possible that he lied to you about this. And if that was true, you would have betrayed your friend for nothing".
"My Lady, I cared for Bel too! and it was horrifying for all of us when she took her life. But you must listen to my words! My master did not understand why you took your life either. You have never had the curse upon you for that long before you were united and the consequences for that was terrible to behold. He never meant for it to happen that way it did and he has confessed to me that he was not in his right mind when he found you".
Isabella felt a chill at his words. "You mentioned this curse before now?" ignoring any sympathy for the monster.
Darius tilt his head considering "Did my master not already explained this to you?".
"He excuses were that his mind and body rape was something that was painful for him but necessary to gain this Isa you are all talking about" Isabella spoke honest even though the room was now full, including Jasper who was glaring hard at Darius on the couch without his arms and legs.
"You are a legend to the old guard. 'The Great Isa' Mother of Vampires. Goddess of Egypt, Babylon and even Atlantis. You have walked this earth for over ten thousand years and always you have done this at the side of Jeremiah. The tale for your curse is everywhere you look in history. That is if you know where to look! I believe my master guards that knowledge fiercely and yet their a few he trusts to know the truth about you both".
"Did he tell you this?" Isabella whispered feeling the tension in the room rise with his words and her own dread.
"Not everything My Lady, but enough to be able to pass this onto you and some more if you are willing to hear it"
"Tell Me" Isabella cut in forcefully as she took another step closer, her fist clinching.
"My master and Isa were born of a race practically abolished in current times. Some would even consider you non-human before your turning.
Isabella looked at him disbelieving and Darius rushed to add "But this somewhat conjecture and not something my master has spoken of with me or I have not been given the great privilege. Please let me have your permission to go on so I can at least explain the parts that I do know".
Isabella frowned feeling out of her depth but said "Go on"
"My master fell in love with a daughter of his enemy. One of the high lords of Ithcã or Atlantis as it is known to the modern world. My master was shunned from his people centuries before Isa's birth and was hunted by the very same high council for a serious crime of creating chaos in the form of abomination of Magnus or as we like to call it – Vampire".
"Get the fuck out" Isabella spat out to the frozen vampires all around her. Clearly no one was expecting this out of the traitors mouth. She took another step closer to Darius completely insanely captured by his words. "Are you trying to tell me. That the monster who wanted to violate me, who murdered my mate and my family is the FUCKING forefather to us all" she shouted with so much rage.
"My Lady?" Darius spoke with care. "I do not mean to upset you with this news…
"Just continue" Isabella said tightly as she felt Jasper come up behind her. 'I needed this information, they needed this information' she told herself even as she smothered her fury at Jeremiah. 'There was time for that later' she thought as Darius spoke once more.
"Jeremiah began to see Isa in secret with some help from a group already loyal to the master and mistress and those were the ones who kept the couple safe for period of time. But, like all secrets they were exposed and truth of their liaison lead lsa's parents to doing something truly unforgivable. In their hubris and hatred for my master. They tied a curse upon Isa! one that would only come into effect if she surrendered her mortal life to Jeremiah".
"What happened next?" She dares to ask whilst intrigued despite herself.
"Jeremiah and Isa did not know of the curse initially, her parents never told her and so my master turned his love blindly and the both of you have lived with the consequences since the burning days of your very first turning."
Darius cleared his throat.
'She will live in his arms for the turning of one cycle and cement her ruination. Her soul will be unbound and stuck to the walk of time in minds prison. He who takes her lifeblood will be cursed to see his love in the arms of his unequals. Only her heart torn asunder does his terrible crime bequeath their whole. Her ruination begins once more'.
"It is not an exact translation but it is the best I can to with this ghastly language" Darius finished softly.
"We can us this! Isabella" Gaius breathed his eyes glowing with triumphant but Isabella did not get to ask how? so locked onto the eyes of Darius with his ancient master already reaching for her. She resisted her best but was once more to her dismay so easily overwhelmed.
Teeth clenched she couldn't stop the great cascade of oil filling the infection growing in her mind.
Isa….
Isa…
Isa..
There you are.
Jeremiah stood before her in a void of darkness, his calm and silent presence instinctively calming her panic. There was a look upon his beautiful face that sent a thrill tricking down Isabella's spine. He commanded such control over himself and it was both mesmerising as it was intense.
He crossed his arms and raised a single brow as he took in his surroundings. "Still fighting me precious love? even now after all you have been told by faithful Darius?"
Isabella listen frozen from where she stood in the void. She was no longer in the Volturi apartment but she knew that this was not one of his illusions.
Everything was blurring around her and she could feel the evidence of her shield blocking the full effect of his power, she was still in control.
"Truly remarkable, Isabella" he smiled reflecting as his eyes scanned her. "I see more of my Isa within you with every new encounter. It is a immense moment of exquisite torture for myself to finally have you so near".
Isabella had already started experimenting as he took his first step towards her. Trying to stay under his radar she flexed her shield trying to pinpoint the cracks Jeremiah had found to get under her power.
"What do you want?" She asked to keep the conversation going.
"Oh my love! You have no conception of how inexhaustibly I have waited for you- Isabella. Centuries of unforgivable pain and my sufferings have known no bounds" he ardently expressed to her before finally taking the final step so she could now see up close his seeking intense and determined eyes.
Isabella finally found the weakness in her mental shield even as she took her first breath of his delicious scent. She knew now was the time to break free from him and yet she hesitates once more feeling the euphoria Jeremiah has only commanded upon her.
Jeremiah looked very pleased with himself and grinned eagerly with a secret dancing in his eyes. "I adore these new changes within you Isabella and I am so very tempted to see how far our little game of cat and mouse can continue".
He reached up trailing his fingers down her cheek bone with such care. "And yet I have to ask the question Isabella. Why are you hesitating?" He cupped her jaw. "We are mates and so you should know that I know your shield like the back of my hand and so I ask again. Why are you still here with me, when you have already found your escape?".
Isabella took a few shuddering step backwards as shame and disgust swept through her. Jeremiah warm laugh rang in her ears as she looked back up to him in shock. This frightening vampire who was gazing at her with a fondness that Isabella did not understand.
"This is not the life I would of ordain for us or this terrible deed that must take place" Jeremiah spoke after her silence his velvet-smooth voice reluctantly capturing Isabella like no other had in her life. "I would spare us this shame if it was at all possible. But, you cannot expect that I will ever leave you to an illusion that is worse then anything I could conjure".
Bitterness filled her so quickly that she visible cringed. Memories rushed through her of those happy filled days with Edward and Renesmee and her Cullen family.
"Oh my my! your thinking of young Edward are you not?" he spoke with dark humour. "Yes I can see it in yours eyes but underneath that I know your terrible secret Isabella" His knowing tone put her on edge as his quick strides removed the space between them again. "You my dearest heart have blocked your bond to that pathetic whelp. I can feel it! because you are not nearly as disgusted by me as you should be" Jeremiah then lifted his hand again and ran a slow elegant finger down her cheek and across her lips to empathise this point.
Anger flooded her veins at his presumption even as he grasps her jaw. "You no nothing about me!" Isabella spat in his face.
He grabbed her with his other arm and roughly brought her to him. "I know you tremble at my very being and you crave my very touch Isabella. You have no idea how very different you are to your past selves who usually struggle and scream at me in this half form. You desire me! and no pesky broken bond can tell you otherwise".
His rich laugh swept through her as he brought his lips to whisper in her ear. "Isabella, don't you find this fascinating. That you my love have outwitted our prophecy and have retain more of your true self in this life then in any lived before." He kissed down her neck before pulling away to meet her enraged face.
"Such anger my little one, such passion. I am going to enjoy every single moment of your ruination". He leant forwards once more to run his nose up her cheek. Isabella sighed involuntary her anger slipping at the action.
"Run little one, let our chase begin. I find that I am very curious Isabella for you to indulge me with your life. I will even give you a head start but know this as soon as I tire of you in this form. I will catch you. There is no doubt about your future, You are mine!".
And this time it was the illusionist to let her go with a warm and indulgent laugh.