Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, I merely play in the sandbox. I do however lay claim to my original characters and the inclusion of the Fey world.

AN: Originally intended as a filler chapter, I suppose it could still be seen as one. The original plot marks for this chapter grew bigger than anticipated, enjoy. ~ Hannah

Chapter Fifty-Six – End of the Past

"Since Ella's disappearance into the in-between, I realised the determination to start a war was much bigger than we first anticipated. The rumours of war within the Fey world have escalated dramatically in the last couple of months. We are training our armies and seeking out our enemies as I speak. I was supposed to reside in the human world, free from the dangers of life until the problems in the Fey world were resolved. With obvious complications arising, things have now changed. I've used my power to place informants within the different worlds we live in. They have been gathering information for me for months now and none of it is good news."

"Well don't leave us in the dark Adrian, tell us what you know."

"Originally we had this idea that the 'Master' whoever they might be wanted control of the Fey world. We now know that his goal is much larger, the 'Master' intends to become ruler of much more than just the Fey world. With regards to Laurent, from what I've gathered, the 'Master' promised him 'dark immortality'."

"What does 'dark immortality' mean? Surely Laurent is already immortal being a Vampire," I said.

"Vampires can be killed, though it rarely happens," said Carlisle.

"Dark Immortality is the worst sort of immortality from a time gone by. A time when earth was small and Gods still had a strong foothold in the world. Dark Immortality is labelled at such because of the evilness that resides inside it. There is a difference between Dark Fey and Dark Majick. Now knowing that this 'Master' is a Dark Majick makes me shiver with fear. The ritual involved to grant Dark Immortality involves sacrificing part of your soul. What happens to that part of removed soul is anyone's guess. For obvious reasons, there is little known about Dark Immortality but I doubt that any good comes to the sacrificed piece of soul. By promising Laurent Dark Immortality, the 'Master' might be trying to revive an order of loyal followers. It may be that he requires more to complete his object of ruling all, I just don't know."

"Is it not pointless to get all worked up about this information when we still don't know who the 'Master' is. I understand the urgency and need for caution but you are outlining the worst possible scenario with no context that it will happen. There is no doubt in my mind that this 'Master' wants unconventional things but until we know the reason behind his actions, we won't know much about his plans," I said.

"What do you mean? I think I've explained it rather well."

"I mean that whoever this 'Master' is, he could be acting out of revenge, hate, greed, anger etc. People aren't just born evil, even you have said that Dark Fey were once Light. Something must have happened to set things in motion for this 'Master'. Until we know where his actions stem from, we won't be able to understand his motives or where he is heading."

"So, what do you suggest we do Ella? Sit back and do nothing?"

"Of course, not Adrian, and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't take that tone with me. You need to have your informant's dig deeper, there has got to be a weakness to this 'Master'. There has got to be a past to the character he's created. I find it impossible that no one knows who he was before he became this elusive 'Master'."

"I understand what Ella is trying to say," said Dad slowly, "she is not trying to anger you Adrian but thinking about this logically is a good step in the right direction. Everyone in this room has a big personality and an even bigger need to have their voices heard. Since the summer we've all learnt that less is more and we've become more open to hearing other thoughts, so let's not change that now. Ella presents a sound argument, one I believe I have passed over to her. This 'Master' has worked hard to ensure that no one knows who he once was for a reason, that should be motivation to have a deeper look into his past. She is also right in the fact that we don't know his motivations. For all we know this might not be about war at all but about gaining knowledge, avenging a fallen family member or even gaining access to a Kingdom's treasuries. With so much uncertainty, to rush in would be a grave mistake to make. The 'Master' currently holds all the cards, until we have a hand to beat him, I think we should lay low and pool our resources into finding a way to bring him down."

"Well said Charlie and I completely agree. There is no sense in us wandering around like headless chickens, waiting to be picked off one-by-one when we could be using our combined knowledge to stop these dark deeds from happening. We have a good opportunity here, let's not waste it," said Carlisle.

"We could get the Volturi involved, with Jane and Alec having formed bonds with Ella, it would be easier to present our case to them but we would have to have a full hand of information to do that," said Emmett.

"So, we have a plan then?" asked Adrian, looking slightly forlorn.

"Yes. It might not be the one you wanted but it's a damn good one. We're working together on this and using our intellect to measure our actions," I said.

"You better be including us in this plan of yours," said Tanya, speaking for the Denali coven.

"Of course, we wouldn't dream of excluding family."

There were two ways I could have gone after the realisation that Laurent had not only infiltrated the Denali coven but had joined the allusive 'Master' in his quest for world domination. I could have retreated into the depressive closed off state I'd been since I return from the in-between or I could pull together all the feisty power I knew I had and persevere without breaking. I chose the latter. Desperate was I to lose the lost girl personal, to lose the weakness I'd carried this past summer. Logically I knew there was nothing to frown upon as I'd been put through things no one should be put through and come out still standing. Yet, I didn't want to be remembered as the girl who had been kidnapped. I was so much more than a 'kidnapped girl'. I'd been so much more and I had so much more to give.

I was unused to being so serious and thinking so deeply about things. Part of me felt like I was turning into another person and I had no idea how to stop myself. Incidents cause change, if I fought the change I would only injure myself further. I needed to accept that I was changed and move on. Wallowing in my own self-pity was foolish and stupid.

[x]

Jasper P.O.V

"Hey Jazz."

"Yes?"

"Can we have another hypno session?"

"Really? Not that I'm denying your request but are you certain you want to delve back into that considering all that we've recently learnt."

"I can see no better reason for doing so. I know I'm near the end of my journey, I can sense it each time we have a session. We have all agreed to gather more research and try to discover who this 'Master' is, what better way to do that than by unlocking my memories? Who knows what was said in the in-between. We might discover something."

"Or we might discover something that could set back your progress."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take. I don't want to be all doom and gloom and say that 'these are dark times' but I'd rather be as prepared as possible and not have my head removed because I decided to play safe."

"Alright, lie down, close your eyes."

"Can you make sure Edward's here when I wake up."

I nodded, knowing he would have heard her request and would be standing nearby.

"I'm going to count back from ten, when I get to one you'll be in your mindscape. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two and one…"

"Hello? Marco?"

"What do you see Ella?"

"It's like if Willy Wonka got high and vomited up a land beyond your wildest imaginations but everything is so bright and has a blurred quality to it."

"Can you see Marco?"

"Yes."

"What is he doing?"

"Sitting crossed legged about ten-yards from me, he's rocking back and forth and muttering to himself."

"Can you get any closer to him?"

"I'm scared."

"It's alright, nothing can harm you. Remember, you're only observing."

"Alright, I'm standing next to him."

"Can you hear him now?"

"He whispers, 'the Master, the Master'. It's creepy."

"What else?"

"The Master is powerful, the Master is wise, the Master will take all with his disguise. Scorned by women, scorned by man, the Master has a vendetta to settle, a need to control, a greed for power and the outlook of gods of old. Unite the races he says but he is too vindictive for that. A politician the Master is not. He would sooner wipe us all out if we disagreed with what he wanted. The Master works behind the scenes to get what he wants, he manipulates and blackmails but he has charms you wouldn't believe. He is to be feared and fought. He is split."

"Split?"

"To ask so much of the ones of old…they do not grant requests without payment and they demand a lot…the Master is fighting a battle between himself and the host in his body. One will win eventually but the winner is anyone's guess. No, no, no! I've said too much, Ella don't listen to me anymore. My Ella, my precious Ella."

"What's happening Ella?"

"No, Marco, stop. That hurts! Jazz you promised."

"Ella, calm, nothing bad is happening, tell me what's going on."

"Marco turned, he has me Jazz, he has me. His hands they bruise with accuracy. They roam, they sting, they burn. He won't let me go Jazz, he won't ever let me go. 'We'll go together', he says, 'if I can't have you, no one can.' He knows, he knows the Master is coming for him, knows he's earnt his death with his betrayal. He could have fallen in love with anyone but he fell for me, the pawn in his Master's game. 'I'd do it again,' he says, 'falling for you is worth death.' I'm crying, struggling to get away but his grip on my shoulders is iron tight. I feel for the first time almost myself within my mind. 'I love you Ella' he says. I wish I could say it back, I wish I could give him something in his last moments but he has tainted himself with his actions. I will always see him as the attacker who raped my mind, the one who twisted me beyond recognition and kidnapped me into this in-between. I fear I will go with him to the fiery pits of hell and I'll go without ever knowing what my life has been and what the gaping hole in my chest means."

"Calm down Ella, relax, I promise that nothing can harm you now."

"But it is harming me Jazz, I am harmed. Get him off me, get him off me!"

Ella was fitting inside her hypnosis, I'd never seen a reaction this bad before, it was alarming and concerning at the same time.

"Do something," said Edward, "she needs help."

"Ella, you're safe remember, you're just watching an old movie. Just turn it off and come back to us."

"I can't get away; the darkness is falling all around us. What am I forgetting? There was something important in my life that I just can't reach. Who was I before Marco? What happened to me? Why won't he let me go? Oh god, oh god, that sound, like a team of screaming hounds. They're coming for us I'm sure. There is no escape, Marco is sorry but he is not letting me go. Oh, please someone safe me!"

"I-I don't understand what's going on."

"Why won't she wake up Jazz?"

"I don't know, I've tried but it's not worked."

"Couldn't you force her?"

"Maybe but it might not be a good thing to force her out in the state she's in."

Alice sped into the room, her form blurred even to my eyes and jabbed something into Ella's arm.

"Alice what are you doing?"

"Helping."

"You don't know what that might do!"

"It's fine, I promise. I would never do anything to harm Ella, you both know that. Carlisle said this would work."

"What did you do to her."

"I sent her to sleep, it's fine, she'll wake up when she's ready. It was the only way to get her out of the hypnosis."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Come on Jazz, let's leave her with Edward."

"I can't leave her Alice. I was supposed to protect her in these sessions and I failed."

"Alright, we can stay but it's going to be a few hours before she wakes."

"I don't care."

"You boys are so stubborn. She won't be angry at either of you for what happened."

"We won't know the answer to that till she wakes up."

[x]

Back to Ella P.O.V

Blearily I blinked back into consciousness as faces swarmed my vision and struggled to keep my stomach where it belonged.

"I wondered when you were going to wake up. I planned this whole angry speech but you just had to go put yourself in danger. I can't be angry with you now."

"Lauren?"

"Yes, you twit! Always knew there was something wrong with the Cullen's and know I know what. Vampires? I mean really. You could not have fallen into a more teenage romance novel if you tried!"

"I'm sorry Lauren, I wanted to tell you but you understand why I couldn't."

"Of course, and if you weren't stuck in bed I'd be telling you just what I thought with mock anger and a shouting voice. However, since you are in bed, I think we can bypass that and focus on your recovery and the fact we'll be friends forever."

"You're really alright with the whole supernatural thing? The fact that you're Alec's mate and the fact that one day you'll give up your human life for immortality?"

"Well when you say it like that it sounds overly dramatic and I'm trying not to be that dramatic person right now. Yes, it's a shock but Alec has been explaining everything to me. He had similar concerns about me giving up my human life. What do you know about my family?"

"Nothing really."

"The old me, the one you hated at school, was hiding behind a façade. My Mum loves her family but she loves them on a level the boasts achievements, beauty and greed. My Step-Dad is a louse, enough said. I told you my cousin was kidnapped, I was the only member of my family to support her through the aftermath. The rest of my family were content to forget it ever happened and cast her out as a blemish that didn't fit with the 'perfect family vibe.' I love my Mum and my family but our relationships are strained. I always knew I would move as far from them as possible. We both have our demons Ella, you rose above them while I acted out. So, no, leaving my human life behind one day doesn't bother me as such."

"I'm sorry?"

"As am I but look at us now. We're better versions of the people we once were. I don't think either of us would go back now and just think of all the things we'll accomplish with our extended lives."

"When did you get so wise?"

"About two seconds after Alec started talking but that's beside the point. From what I hear we have a suicidal greedy vampire on the loose and an even bigger nob angling for 'ruler of the world' to sort out."

"Don't ever let anyone tell you that you don't have a way with words Lauren."