"Eddie! Ed man! Edward, please! I'm sorry, alright! I didn't mean anything by it. Please put me down" Emmett squeaked like a twelve-year-old girl,
"So having wings isn't girly after all then? Therefore you always knowing I was a great big fairy was a lie too, was it? Suggesting I wear a pink tutu and matching ballet pumps was meant to be funny, was it? Strange that Emmett, you can dish it out, but you're not so keen when the boot's on the other foot!" Edward said trying to keep a straight face,
When Edward had returned to the Cullens house, after being gone for five days. Well, Emmett just couldn't stop himself. He only saw the wings, not the changes in his brother. After about an hour, everyone had told Emmett to shut up several times, but he wouldn't let it go and Edward did something so unlike his usual self.
Luckily they'd all been in Edward's old room, he'd come to collect some of his things. He rushed at Emmett, grabbed him and went straight up through the roof. Apologising to Esme and telling her Emmett would fix it later. So now here they all were outside, looking up at the two men. One was calmly dangling the other by his arm over the ground a couple of hundred feet below.
Carlisle was worried for a few moments, but Jasper smiled and squeezed him on the shoulder. The feelings of mischief Edward was projecting flooded into him via Jasper's hand and he relaxed. Bella had also been at the house and she knew all about fairies and their sense of mischief. She peeled back the shield she had around Edward, unable to do it before as he was MIA.
'Would a large pool of water, be helpful?' she said straight into his head, he grinned wickedly and nodded,
Rose was standing by with a camera, she guessed something was about to happen and knew Edward would never hurt Emmett intentionally. Suddenly they saw a lake appear on the back lawn and Emmett falling fast towards it. The splash as he hit, soaked them all and even Bella was surprised.
"Oops! Didn't think that through" she said, waving her arm and drying everyone instantly with a very warm breeze,
A slightly subdued Emmett pulled himself out of the water and looked up at his brother,
"Sorry man!" was all he said before heading inside to change.
Bella was about to wave the lake away when Esme asked her to leave it as a reminder to Emmett, that not all his comments were funny, some were hurtful too. But not one to be down for long Emmett wondered if he could tunnel out to the sound. The Mer boys could use it to visit, he thought. He'd ask their leader next time they were in town.
Carlisle was happy to see Edward so happy and at ease with himself. It turns out even though he still looked like a vampire he no longer required blood to survive, but only fairy food and drink. They could change anyone into a fairy, but they would remain the species they were before. So he still had his speed, strength and vampire mind. Esme was unhappy he wouldn't be staying, but his mate was Selente the Queen of the fairies and his place was with her.
TCHBTE
A similar situation was happening with Jasper and Bella. She had taken one look at the Cullens house and thought nope! It was so OTT, who needed all that stuff and why was it so stark and bright. No, she would not be living in a show home, she wanted a place where she could relax and be herself. As a witch she could have anything she wanted with a click of her fingers, but what's the point in that? Nor did she like the idea of everyone hearing everything you said or did!
The five days Edward was gone had been used differently by Jasper and Bella. They had spent the time together, talking, sharing everything warts and all. It had been very cathartic for them both, especially Jasper. She didn't judge him at all, insisting he made the best out of a bad situation and he was not to blame for what Maria made them all do. She'd lied, cheated and controlled good people to get her own way.
Jasper reiterated to her what he'd told her father. He'd wait as long as she needed before changing her unless she was at death's door and then all bets would be off. He had no intention of living without her ever! Bella smiled, she knew they'd find an answer, with everyone pooling their resources, how could they possibly fail. Not for one moment did she doubt they would find the answer and Jasper envied her, having that kind of conviction.
Then things turned more personal, he wanted to stay yes, but not with her and her father in their home, once they were together. She agreed that would be untenable and added no way was she living in that mausoleum he called home. So they imagined what they would both like and wondered where they could build it.
But that was jumping the gun and she laughed saying he'd have to make an honest woman of her first unless he wanted to be hexed by her father. He laughed right back and said,
"No darlin', I don't want that. So would you do me the honour of allowin' me to take you on a date?"
Jasper liked the fact that they didn't have to rush at their relationship like a bull in a china shop. They could take their time and really enjoy getting to know each other. Not that he wouldn't like to just grab her and make love to her right now, he would. But he was determined to do this the right way, it would be their one and only relationship and he wanted it to be perfect or as perfect as a witch and a vampire could have.
Day four was spent with Charlie talking about who they could question. Finding a dark witch would be the hardest thing, that was until Peter arrived.
"I've found one; well she's not really dark per se! From what little info I got it appears when a witch is turned, both the vampire and witch communities spread the word they're dark, dangerous and to be shunned. Mainly because they themselves are scared, not that the witch will do anythin' wrong. Both sides hunt them down and kill them indiscriminately, along with their mates. So they are isolated right from the off, either with their mate or left out there alone waitin' to be picked off!" Peter said he seemed incensed on the witches behalf,
In his mind it seemed unfair and cruel, but if all the turned witches became a coven! Well, then they would have the upper hand, too strong for either group to take them on. Yes, Peter loved an underdog and he felt it was time to address this situation that normal vampires knew nothing about. He intended to ask Bella to ask the archive for the names of witches still alive who had been turned. Wasn't it enough that the humans shunned them all, without your own side doing the same.
So Peter and Charlotte were off to talk to this witch and would let them know what had happened as soon as possible. Day five the day of Edward's return was being spent with the Cullens or what was left of them. With Alice's departure, Edward's transformation and Jasper's mating they were down to four. Esme's hopes or Bella and Jasper staying were dashed before she even voiced them. He was already a very private person and Bella was of a similar ilk. She didn't need a replacement mother she wasn't the seventeen she looked.
"I'll be staying with my father until Jasper and I get married, then we'll be building a place of our own. Jasper wants to do it the old fashioned way, with his bare hands, anyway, somewhere quiet and private, maybe up near Peter and Charlotte's cabin. We'll be keeping it for when they visit if they ever leave that is!" Bella had told her in no uncertain terms.
TCHBTE
Life was settling down once again in Forks, the vampires fitted in quite nicely, in fact, the magical community learn much about the human world they had been ignoring from them. Seeing they had become far too isolated, it was detrimental to their wellbeing. If they weren't careful the humans would realise something was very strange about Forks Washington. So every day delegations of people arrived at the large white mansion and impromptu learning sessions began.
It was strange to think that the vampires were the authority on humans and not the more humanoid populace. Emmett was in his glory talking about technology and gaming, films and entertainment. Rose was the expert on transport and female fashion, hairstyles and beauty regimes. Esme talked about interior design and architecture, as well, as modern art. Carlisle was up to date on all things medical as well as government laws and procedures.
Jasper, when approached, was happy to discuss history, modern warfare and the art of forgery. On the rare occasions, anyone had to leave Forks, they had noticed many changes and instead of keeping abreast of them they had fallen far behind,
"The art of hidin' successfully is to blend in, not stand out!" Jasper had said,
"Yes, we ourselves were swayed by Alice and became everything we should not have" Carlisle admitted and this statement actually gained them more respect. Admitting to falling into the trap of complacency, made them seem more normal, approachable.
The thing that gained the respect of the other species was of all things recycling. Emmett had seen first-hand lots of detritus, both in the water and abandoned on the shoreline. He had the idea that they could actually make money from the rubbish the human threw out, which eventually washed up in the Puget Sound. He would make huge cages which were to be hidden at the bottom of the sound in various places, where the Mer could fill them and he would empty them once a week.
Sort it all into containers of glass, plastic and other biodegradables. Then once a month he would take them to collection centres or sell them to states that pay you for it. It wouldn't take long for it to become a lucrative business. Carlisle in the future would help them set up a trust to deal with the money. Although they didn't need it for personal items, the money would be used to repair the blocked and damaged waterways all around the area. Some caused by the weather, most by soil degradation.
The spin-off from this would eventually aid the Quileutes fishing grounds and the water quality improvements would in time encourage more animals to appear and therefore more plants too. Eventually, they would be able to clean up the whole coastline and the three main rivers and several tributaries that surround Forks. All because Emmett said,
"Man that's a lot of human garbage; you should sell it back to them!"
TCHBTE
Peter knew he was in the right place; it was a run-down bar on the edge of nowhere, Colorado! He and Charlotte sat at the bar pretending to drink a beer, as he watches the bartender occasionally put a shot on the bar next to an empty stool. Then it would disappear faster than the human eye could see, but Peter wasn't human.
"Hello Camille!" he said in a tone only a vampire would hear,
"You can see me? How?" asked an angry hissed voice,
"Nope, just know you're there! I have a ..., I just know shit!" he replied.
To anyone looking it looked like he was talking to Charlotte and not the empty stool next to him.
"I'm not here to cause you any bother, just ask a couple of questions and give you a suggestion for the future!" he now said,
"Okay, I'll bite. It's been a while since I've spoken to anyone, well anyone like me!" she said in a sad voice,
"Oh suga', the worlds a damn cruel place and that's no lie!" Charlotte told the invisible vampire who just grunted in reply.
"How about we take a booth at the back, a little less conspicuous for us all. Maybe we'll grab us some dinner later, there is always some sicko's in these kinda joints" Peter asked getting to his feet, praying she'd follow them,
Charlotte followed with a tray of shots she'd ordered; maybe Camille would do what Jasper did and let them believe it was real. It was amazing how good it felt to be able to taste the liquor, really taste it. Drinking alcohol was not as unpleasant as eating food, but it had no real taste at all. This was sad because it really smelt as good as it had when they were human.
The two vampires sat to one side of the booth, in fact, Charlotte sat on Peter's lap and placed a couple of shots in front of themselves and another couple at the other edge of the booth.
"Alright, you know who I am, so who are you?" the disembodied voice inquired curiously,
"Peter and Charlotte Whitlock ma'am, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Peter said gallantly.
"My he's got pretty manners for a seasoned warrior! You were in the southern wars I'm guessing by the scars. How the hell did you get free of that?" Camille asked them now,
"Peter can be a gentleman when he wants to suga'. Yes, we were in Maria, one of the warlord's army for a while, me less than him. Our sire helped us escape when my head was on the line!" Charlotte explained calmly.
"Wow, you were lucky then. Your name seems familiar, who was your sire?" Camille asked with a hint of mistrust,
"No need to worry sweet thing, he's a good man with a bad reputation is all! He's just plain Jasper Whitlock nowadays, but he once was called the Major!" Peter said holding his breath a little,
"The Major, he let you go why?" she asked in a whisper that wasn't needed,
"He's our sire, my friend and my brother. When I realised Char was my mate and she was due to be culled I panicked and he kept his cool. He left her to last and told us to run and never look back, we did just that for five years before I returned for him!" Peter told her and only a fool would miss the love and respect in his voice as he spoke of Jasper.
"I envy you that connection. I killed my sire and his band of hunters, all but one! They thought themselves special, elite even! They came over from Europe, hunting and killing supernaturals of every kind, turning us and letting us loose on the population before hunting us all again and killing those they re-caught for fun. Saying they were upholding the law, that we were a threat to the secret!
I was fooled the first time, well caught off guard anyway. But they never got a second chance, this is a mighty fine gift. It protected me and gave me the chance to return the favour and hunt them down instead!" Camille explained bitterly before dropping her invisibility illusion and Peter and Charlotte saw the beautiful woman before them.
"As you can see I'm from First Nation descent originally and that was their mistake. They thought to use a werewolf blade against me as I'm now a vampire. True it gave me this shock of white hair, but my tribe were shifters and me, their shaman, so I expelled the poison with only this to show for it. But the Volturi now hunt me and the witch council is on my back too, even though technically I'm not really a witch as such.
Therefore I keep myself cloaked most of the time. But it's a lonely existence!" Camille said exhaling slowly as she got it off her chest to someone else,
"The one who got away? Let me guess, Caius Volturi the king rat himself!" Peter spat angrily as his gift informed him of the truth.
"Yes, the coward ran as his friends diminished!" Camille said scathingly, "Turns out there are slim pickings in Europe nowadays as the supernaturals have gone into hiding. His activities are a well-guarded secret apparently! Aro seems to think it will keep him happy and out of his hair, or that's what my sire told me as I tore him limb from limb!"
"Well not for much longer I think! I might just l know a few people who would be delighted to let this little gem slip out" Peter said the wheels in his mind spinning,
"You never said what it was you wanted from me Oh, drink up, it'll taste better now," Camille said smiling, she liked these two warriors,
"Ah, yes! The Major has met his mate, but she's an elemental witch and everyone keeps saying witches go bad when turned. We were lookin' to hear it straight from the horse mouth so to speak" Peter explained and Camille laughed,
"The Volturi have much to answer for. This is another of their little lies; they know it's all in the sire of the witches. He, after all, changed the twins, but refuses to let them do magic! He's afraid someone stronger, better and good, will come along and spoil his little party!" she sneered at she mentioned of his name,
"Well, well! This is interestin', Bella will be relieved. Now my idea, can you spot a witch vampire easily? If you all banded together as one coven, in both senses of the word. They would have to take you seriously; I'm not advocatin' world domination. Just freedom for you to be yourselves, without interference from the witch council or the Volturi! After all, as hybrids neither can understand your needs, so you should be allowed to represent yourselves and many will back you believe me"
"Wow, that's ambitious! But it's a definite plan! I would love nothing more than to have a coven, I've been on my own for so long, well one hundred years anyway. Caius has never returned n that entire time bloody coward!" Camille said with disgust lacing her tone.
"We're returnin' to or sire tomorrow. He's in a supernatural community of many species, one of which is a shifter tribe, the Quileutes!" Peter said dangling the carrot in front of Camille,
"Washington State then? They, I believe are wolves! We were wild mustangs, beautiful, strong, fast as the wind and deadly creatures, they shunned me you know. The fear and ignorance could not be breached and I finally gave up leaving my family behind to the mercies of my tribe" she said sadly,
"Well, this lot are different, they live side by side with Fairies, Nymphs, Witches and the Mer. They are a strong community that just incorporated Vampires, well one family so far, the Cullens!" Charlotte said now and Camille looked at them smiling,
"I have heard of Carlisle Cullen, who hasn't? The vampire who refuses to kill humans and became a doctor to help them. Would they let me visit, do you think I would be accepted there for a little while?" Camille asked wistfully,
"Only one way to find out sweet thing, ask! I'll make the call okay? But, if not we have a small cabin just on the edge of their community and you can stay with us until they get to know you" Peter said, knowing everything would work out fine.
"Tell them my real name is Cah'mel Lahote!" she said breathlessly, even for a vampire.
TCHBTE
Jasper was more than a little shocked by Peter's call, not only had he found the witch vampire, but she was good. Not only that she was from a shifter tribe and the kicker, had been hunted by Caius Volturi himself! Damn, Peter never does anything by halves, he thought. In the past, Jasper would have gone to Carlisle with such news first, but this was much more in Charlie's sphere.
So he headed there first, knowing that a meeting would have to be called to decide if Camille or Cah'mel could come to Forks. He withheld only one bit of information, that Peter had offered her a bolthole on their cabin, which was technically outside of the supernatural community. He felt she deserved some help, even if only a safe house for a short time.
Once he had passed on the information to Charlie he went in search of Carlisle. The news was not quite as shocking to him as Jasper might have expected. But Carlisle knew of Caius' predilection for destroying anything he didn't like or understand. After all, he's advocated for Carlisle's death once upon a time, because he refused to kill humans.
It was as if it was a personal insult to Caius' way of life and therefore demanding the death penalty. Carlisle knew he was the most unstable of the three brothers. Once the meeting was called all agreed she should be allowed to come and talk to them. If only to aid Bella in her future. The Quileutes were cautious, but not condemning like her own tribe and that might have been more because of her name.
Lahote was well known here, they married into the founding family long ago. In fact roughly one hundred years ago! Was that a mere coincidence or had Cah'mel's family fled after she was shunned or were they shunned themselves? Old Quill set to and looked through any old tribal documents to find out any answers he could. There was precious little but one man Luk'ka Lahote and his infant son Gene Lahote had arrived here many years ago from a tribe far away.
The had said it was due to the death of the boy's mother and a need for a fresh start. Tribe's intermingled much more back then. The father was a skilled hunter on land and the boy eventually married into one of the main families, the Uley's and if they carried shifter genes, it was less dominant than the wolf gene. Well he thought, we are a proud tribe and we will welcome home a lost sister.
Even if she is a vampire, she is still a shaman and an ancestor of one of our wolves. The Quileutes would right the wrongs of her own tribe and give her a place to finally call home and a family too. Old Quill knew they too might have been like her own tribe if not for the magic's coming to Forks. Once they too had been insular and reluctant to see what was staring them in the face, but little by little they were worn down by the community around them and found great joy and friendship which would otherwise have been lost.
The past was where it should be behind them and they now looked to the future with open minds and open eyes. Not all was as the ancestors thought, not all was black and white. They were not all bad and the tribe all good, their own histories told them this. So, therefore, some vampires could also be good too. So he called a tribal meeting and told them Cah'mel Lahote was coming home at long last and she would be accepted into the tribe and given a place on the council if she so wished. Everyone was at first stunned and then joyous, as Paul sat speechless with tears in his eyes.
Gene Lahote is a member of the Uley family. He is the husband of Ruth Uley, the son-in-law of Thomas Uley I and Beatrice Door, the brother-in-law of Caleb Uley, and Levi Uley, and the great-grandfather of Paul Lahote. (Twilight Saga Wiki)