Chapter 17: Teenage Mutant Ninja Vampires

Jane quickly woke Donovan up. She felt bad for having to shake him so violently, but time was of the essence. He would heal. Opening his turquoise eyes, Jane tried to think about how they held hints of green. Rather she focused on how foggy and glazed over they were. Finally opening both eyes, he moaned and sat up slowly. "Whu gwing uh?" he mumbled, voice thick from sleep. "We have company, and it's rude to sleep while hosting your guests" Alec snapped calmly. He searched his borrowed pants pockets for a lighter or matches or anything that would give them some sort of hope. "Maybe they're friendly," Donovan mused, he looked like he was on the verge of falling asleep again. Jane didn't think a word he said was lucid at this point. "Do you have your shield up, at least?" she hissed desperately searching for something she could use as a weapon in the many trunks and heaps of the storage locker. Jane settled for a brown umbrella with a wooden duck handle. She waved it in front of her like a sword ready to stab someone. "Not working, too tired," Donovan slumped against the wall of the locker. Alec checked and at least his eyes were still open and he was some-what conscious. Alec tried to summon more Mist, but even thinking about the Mist sent flaming daggers to his brain. They were so screwed. Alec found a china and silverware set and stuffed a couple butter knives in his back pockets while death gripping two forks. Cutlery and an umbrella versus a couple dozen. It would have to do. They were the Volturi after all. They didn't back down from a fight, not matter what the odds were.

Slowly Jane re-opened the door to their temporary bunker.

"We come to speak with the members of the Volturi," a young girl, barely ten years old with adorable freckles, dimples and light brown hair in school girl braids. Yet her blue eyes were steady and focused, posture tall, voice strong and confident. Alec peered around Jane's shoulder to look at the small girl and the other children. He counted about twenty seven, all ranging in ages four to possibly eighteen. They didn't look like they were about to attack. Their postures resembled a business man giving a presentation, not warriors ready to kill. Their eyes held no murderous light, despite Jane burning down their home and probably injuring, if not killing, their fellow dhampirs. "Relax, we just want to talk," she smiled reassuringly. "We don't want to buy any Girl Scout cookies," Donovan slurred from the locker. "Donovan O'Malley! What did we tell you about your drinking problem?" another girl's voice called. Harper.

"What the hell are you doing here? I thought we told you to run with Echo?" Alec grumbled. "So? You're not the boss of me. You should be kissing my ass, really," Harper laughed. Jane raised an eyebrow and her new umbrella, daring her to continue. The young girl glared at Harper, before speaking, "We come to negotiate. Not fight. You want the Old Pete and his lackey's dead and so do we. You need man power and information. We need the Volturi to leave us alone or at least let us live. Your leaders' sympathy, perhaps. Do we have a deal?"

Jane and Alec looked at each other. They hated having to trust other people, especially strangers. But they were on the defense, out manned and out powered. "DEAL!" they said in unison.

"My name is General Grigsby and we are at your service," the girl shook Jane's hand firmly. "Spread the word. These two are not to be harmed and are now temporarily promoted to generals," Grigsby ordered the dhampir boy, who looked no older than thirteen, as he sprinted down the alley way. "Follow me," she waved Jane and Alec to follow her. "What about Donovan?" Jane inquired. "It will see to it that he is fully functional and healed. I will also see to that someone arranges to have Moira's body mailed to England ASAP," affirmed the young girl. Jane found it spooky, yet commendable that Grigsby spoke with such confidence and poise, with such a cold and focused aloofness. Like she was talking to a well-seasoned soldier, not a school girl. She wondered if that's what people thought when they saw her spear-heading a case.

Finally Grigsby stopped at the end of an alley way, reached down and undid the man-hole cover. "You two pansy-cakes coming?" she huffed before jumping below. Alec shut the cover behind them. Both the twins' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the sight revealed to them at the bottom.

Computers and monitors lined the walls with kids in varying ages typing away, researching, scanning, and navigating like robots. "Sighting in north corner of central park," a brunette boy with pale eyes announced. Jane saw a cluster of three boys running through the trees on the screen, before following Grigsby further into the sewers. They passed a group of older kids sparring on rugged rubber mats coached by the dhampir they had originally met guarding the door of the nightclub. It was called DOWN WORLD wasn't it? Alec remembered his name was Drake. "Heads up!" a girl shouted as an arrow whizzed past Alec's ear and notched itself in the crumbling sewer walls. "Sorry, sir," a redhead girl who looked about fourteen with silver eyes panted as she retrieved the arrow. "Artemis, I see the defensive line still needs work," Grigsby commented. The redhead laughed lightly, "Well, what can you expect from four-monthers?"

"Keep up the good work," Grigsby clasped her hands behind her hands, "Moving onward. We are currently over-loaded and crowded since the unfortunate loss of our topside compound." Grigsby gave Jane a sideways glare while gritting her teeth, which was oddly terrifying with her wide-childlike yet stern and cold blue eyes. Jane tried not to make eye contact and laughed nervously, "Wow, this is a truly amazing facility."

Grigsby marched down the sewers wordlessly staring ahead. Alec felt slightly unsettled. He was accustomed to being the youngest, now he seemed older than a good majority of the kids down here. All his career he had spent executing anyone who was a vampire and younger than him. Now he was watching kindergarteners run by faster than a speeding bullet, kids who should be in primary school practice ripping heads of practice dummies with super strength, and staring in amazement as they climbed up the sides of the brick walls more agile than any cat. As they walked through the sewers, all their eyes watched them as they went. Calculating, not childish. Careful, not gleeful. It was like someone had stolen the eyes of a middle aged adult and inserted them into china-dolls. Thinking about having these kids hunt and kill people sent shivers doen his spine. It was one thing when a human saw a pale creature with, white sharp teeth and eyes glowing red dressed all in black. It made more logical sense than a rosy cheeked, cow-licked, blue-eyed, smiling second grader in blue jeans, an old sweatshirt and beat up sneakers. It was also unsettling the way they talked to each other, with perfect grammar and articulation. Toddlers speaking like new reporters to with one another. One kid who looked about seven caught Alec's eye. He had messy gold coloured hair, silver eyes and a rubber ducky yellow t-shirt. The boy kept staring at Alec as they walked deeper and deeper into the sewers. He could have sworn he'd seen the kid before. There was nothing out right wrong with it, but it just seemed creepy and weird to him personally. These THINGS were perfect in every way. These THINGS were terrifying. And now here he was, being ordered by a small girl who looked not older than ten.

"This is where you will be staying until you are allowed to leave. We have about five mind-readers and two trackers, so you do the math of how easy it will be for you to leave. Tomorrow at dusk I will appoint three dhampirs to escort you to the abandoned building where you stashed your belongings. In the meantime please do not feed from, kill, maim, or torture any of the residents here or burn down the only place we have left to call home. Thank you," and with that, their 'new leader' left them. Jane opened the door to find several rows of bunk beds. Many of which were covered with tattered sleeping bags or sheets over fraying mattresses and numerous backpacks stashed under them. They also noted that there was no light or lamp and were thankful for their vampire night vision. Jane and Alec walked over to bunk that was completely empty. They both in unison held up a fist over and open palm. "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot".

Alec got top, Jane bottom even though she argued that she was older so she should pick first. It didn't really matter, neither of them would be sleeping. It just felt good to find comfort in arguing over something so trivial such as which twin gets the top bunk.

"Do you think Donovan is going to be okay?" Alec whispered through the darkness, lying on his back. Jane pursed her lips. She thought Alec hated Donovan and was surprised her twin was showing such concern for him. "He's a tough nut to crack. When we were in the warehouse, he had a full on break down when we found Moira. He ripped up furniture and broke gas pipes. It was just a mental shock I guess. What shook me was that we found her tied to a stake, burnt to a crisp." Just like us, Jane thought, "It just brought back bad memories and hit a little too close to home that she looked almost exactly like me. Dark blonde hair, petite, green eyes." And a witch. "In the ashes bellow her someone wrote Moira O'Malley. Like Donovan O'Malley." And in love with Donovan. "I'm just a little shaken and stirred up. But I'm fine I guess and I think he will be too." One can only hope.

"I hope so. He's a little rough around the edges and a little cagey, but I can tell he really likes you. The whole reason he wanted me paired up with him on the roof tops was to ask 'bout 'cha. Wondering if you fancy him and all. I wouldn't sweat it too much. Maybe one day he will explain everything and it won't be as bad as you think it is. And hey, she's dead so there's nothing she can do about you two snogging. The good news is that if you two decided to be mates, Aro would welcome him into the coven with a gift like his. As long as he doesn't drink all the alcohol in Volterra." Jane laughed along with her brother. It felt good to smile.

Forks

Finally it was time to say good bye to the Denali's. Renesmee was sad to say goodbye. She loved Carmen's bedtime stories in Spanish. Tanya had introduced her to some small self-defense moves, much to Daddy's disapproval. "I don't appreciate that you tried to teach my daughter how to fight," he scolded. "It's better she learns and never has to use it versus being trapped alone and no clue how to defend herself," Kate countered. "She won't be alone. She won't have to defend herself because I will always be there to protect her," Edward seethed. "Look at her, Eddie. She looks almost nine. In less than five and a half years she will be a grown woman. There will come a time when- ".

"No, there won't. I'll make sure of it," he growled before slamming the door shut behind them. Carlisle followed the Denali's out, attempting to apologize. "Well that was rude," Esme crossed her arms, glaring at her youngest son. Renesmee had watch the entire thing from upstairs, looking through the stairs railing. She hated when he got like this. She didn't need his constant supervision and approval. She hated how he treated her like she was incapable of being strong. It just made her so frustrated and mad.

Momma came up eventually to check on her. Renesmee touched her hand showing her Aunt Kate's and Aunt Tanya's lessons. They were very basic and simple. Bella wished they had taught her more before Edward demanded they stop. Can you ask Uncle Jasper or Uncle Em to continue teaching me? I really want to learn and feel I might have to. Next Renesmee showed Bella the argument she had overheard Eleazar and Grandpa having. How the danger might still be up in the air.

Carlisle pulled Eleazar away after he apologized to the Denali's for Edward's behavior. The coven already knew of Eleazar's personal detour to Italy. "I just wanted to wish you a safe journey to Volterra. If you are allowed by Aro, I would appreciate if you kept me in the loop as to what happens. Rumor has it there will be several discussions and questions about half-vampires, such as my granddaughter. I fear that as more and more vampires learn of her, the more she might be in danger. I also fear that if other vampires procreate, there will be chaos and I do not want a repeat of the Immortal Children epidemic."

"I will, old friend. I plan on meeting up with a long lost friend of mine and traveling with him. Aro wishes to speak with us both on the matter of hybrids. I hope you have a chance to meet him also. He's Nahuel's father, Joham. Both of us, along with Santiago, were turned by the same vampire. It will be weird to have all three of us under one roof again. I know all three of us will have a lot of catching up to do," Eleazar laughed.

"Just remember, if Aro asks you to rejoin the Guard, I completely understand and will help look after your coven in that is the case," Carlisle swore.

"If I don't make it back, tell Carmen I love her."

Volterra

"No, little more to the left. No, the other left. A centimeter and a quarter higher. Ugh! Have you never seen a ruler in your life?" Sulpicia shrieked at the humans that were hired "just for manual labour" as they hung the last of the Christmas decorations. No matter. They all would be dead as soon as they finished. Athenodora was making sure every single decoration was exactly equally spaced, the lights all had working bulbs, the tables in the great hall all had the same shade of burgundy, not maroon, burgundy table clothes with no wrinkles, centre pieces on point, and fresh mistletoe over every door way. Dear God, did Caius love mistletoe all of a sudden.

Aro was excited to meet his guests. He knew many would present newborns with possibly useful talents. Many were odd and unneeded such as being able to unlock doors or glow in the dark or balance ten oranges on their heads. Aro could always smell the desperation in their sire's empty veins as they in vain tried to gain the Volturi's approval. Unless someone truly wowed and amazed Aro, he was not counting on adding any new additions to his ranks. He didn't want to rely on strangers to keep the experiment a secret. At least Joham, the father of the male Halfling they met last winter, said he was coming. Aro hoped to discuss with him his research and to possibly learn new information about the species. Not to mention Eleazar was also coming to the Ball. He hoped his old friend didn't mind staying with them longer than originally planned. He wanted Eleazar to be present when Aro started training with Damien. He trusted Eleazar, or at least his thoughts. Damien made him wary. But, no matter. All would be resolved and just in time for the holidays.

Joan had been alerted that soon guests would be arriving for the Winter Ball, some tomorrow at the latest. Many of which would take advantage of the Volturi's hospitality and come two days or so early and most likely stay a couple days. She was to manage assigning rooms and making sure everyone was comfortable. Heidi had handed out a 'promotional tour, feast and gala' for a large group of humans. Little did they know, they were going to be the feast. Demetri was assigned to make sure all the children's rooms were locked and vacated once people arrived. It also wouldn't hurt to febreeze bomb the areas the children had been in so no one would catch their scent. He, with the help of Marina, was to work security and make sure no one went where they weren't supposed to and risk discovering the halflings. Since Damien was the only child with a bedroom on the lowest level, all the children would be sleeping in his room and were to only go between his room and the combat training room down the hall from his room. IF Marina mentally scanned the area and said it was safe.

Once guests started to arrive, they were to stay down there completely silent and to quote Caius "As if you bastards don't even fucking exist. I don't even want to hear you thinking about thinking your bubble-brain childish thoughts. Or so help me I will rip your vocal chords out, and weave a fucking Easter basket out of it, agreed?" And with that cheering thought, the children slinked into the shadows of the basement.

Damien hated sharing a room. He didn't mind Marina. She mainly sat in the corner and did her homework or read. Marina had told Tiago it was safe for him to walk the fifty feet to the training room. Shoulders slumped, he walked down alone. He was excited at first that he would be able to spend quality time with Marina, even though Demteri threatened to drop kick him of the plaza clock tower "if any funny, cutsy business went on between him and Marina". Demetri was still peeved about Tiago's slip up. Once Dad explained to him why what he said was inappropriate, he blushed all the way to his ears and nearly puked his guts out. He only wanted to have fun with Marina, not have kids!

Dad made it up to him by giving him a toy called a football. Apparently it use to belong to close friend of Dad who had died right before Tiago was born. Now Dad wanted Tiago to have it. It was a perfect black and white sphere and surprisingly bouncy. Dad said you play with it by hitting it against a wall. Wait, no kicking it. You were allowed to make contact with it in anyway as long as you don't use your arms or hands. Marina eventually came out from her studying, and joined him in the Training room. It was surprisingly fun and they made a game of how make times they could bounce it off their knees. Both were tied with fifty-seven times. Finally they found a game both enjoyed and both were equal in skill. Tiago had faster reflexes, but Marina was more agile and had better hand-eye coordination.

Damien just wished that Olivia would leave the room and play with the other kids. All she did was stare at him and watch everything he did. "What'cha drawing," she said in a sing-songy voice. "Nothing," Damien grumbled. "Can I see it," She ordered more that asked. "No," Damien glared at her. "Why not? You scared you suck at drawing more than everything else you do, schizo-naut?" She snorted. Damien took deep breaths and counted to ten backwards in his head. He wasn't going to be baited this easily. Damien could read that Olivia was bored. Since Chelsea was expected to help host the Ball, the wives were in a decorating frenzy and daddy dearest was working security with Demetri, no one was entertaining her or giving her the attention she wanted. So when had to resort to ways to entertain herself. Her normal victim, Marina, was having fun and she didn't know how to break her. So she was turning to the next person she thought was weak.

"Can I please put glue in her hair, pretty please?" Claudia whined. Sven held back his friend. Damien liked that Sven was smart enough to notice what was worth a fight and what was not. Claudia on the other hand, struggled with controlling herself and not causing more mischief even if she thought she was helping. "But she's a bitch," the small ghost girl pouted, sitting down on the floor in a huff. Damien couldn't help himself. He ungracefully snorted and started laughing at Claudia's temper tantrum. He was caught off guard by the innocent looking girl using a profanity with such fluidity. Damien sat on his bed laughing to himself until he couldn't breathe anymore.

Olivia just stared at Damien why the hell was he laughing? She was making fun of HIM! Why was he laughing at HER? Instead of feeling bad, like she wanted, he was laughing like a mad man. Olivia didn't know what to think. He was scaring her. Damien never laughed. Hell, he never smiled. Chelsea always joked that the twins and Damien were psychotic. Olivia only repeated it because she wanted to have Chelsea like her. Now, Olivia wasn't sure what to do.

Slowly she backed away and ran out the door to the Training room. "Guys, Damien's insane. Like rubber room insane," Olivia panted. Marina and Tiago looked at each other. Not this again. Why was Olivia always so mean to people and seeking attention? Damien hadn't ever done anything to her, yet she was always making fun of him. Ignoring her, they continued passing the ball back and forth.

Finally some peace and quiet. Damien shut the door to his room. "That was too close, Claudia," Damien warned, "You guys need to be more careful. Ya can't just pop in whenever you please. I get that you are dead and bored, but please have a little more forethought."

"But we have news about Jane and Alec!" Claudia exclaimed. Damien had asked Didyme to ask other ghosts about the death of his dad and aunt. He needed to know something, yet apparently no one had seen them on the other side. "A ghost told another ghost who was told by a first ghost that they saw Alec for like five minutes before he disappeared. Bunch of people on our side are buzzing about it. Apparently something strange happened, but no one knows what," Sven informed.

Damien was high on alert now. This was interesting news. "What kind of strange?"

"We don't know. Things have been weird over here ever since you started being able to see us and talk to us," Claudia shrugged.

"Maybe I can help in exchange for something else. I want you to help me look over my son. I want you to tell him that Felix isn't his real father," a deep with a Portuguese accent voice offered. Damien knew that voice. It was Santiago.