Chapter 26 – Enough

The school year was almost over and the professors were busy helping their students pass their classes. I knew were Dr. Perry lived. Carlisle, Edward and I were going to pay him a visit. Jasper was to stay out of the house, but he was to use his influence to keep everything calm. Alice assured us that she will monitor the entire conversation, to make sure all goes well and to watch for any intruders. Emmett and Jacob were on their guard, but kept a distance. We weren't sure if the wolves were watching Dr. Perry and they wanted to be close in case of a fight. Jacob felt weird fighting along side a vampire, but he wanted to know the truth as well. It was amazing that Jacob and Emmett were getting along the best.

It was just after 10 o'clock and most of the houses nearby were silent. From inside of the house, the sound of a pen scrawling was the loudest noise. Silently, the three of us entered the house. Moving quietly, we found Dr. Perry at the kitchen table. There was an empty chair in front of him. Make a noise, I signaled to Edward. Shifting his weight, the floorboard creaked loudly from the movement. Dr. Perry looked back to the apparent empty kitchen doorway. Before he looked back, I slipped into the chair. He finally looked back, saw me and jumped out of chair. He moved so quickly, the chair fell to the floor. "Hello Michael," there was no need to use titles. "Mrs. Cullen," he leapt up from his seat. "Sit down, there's no need to fear. I just want to talk." I could feel Jasper's influence, as a sense of calm coming over the room. Moving quickly, I picked the chair up and gestured to it, "Please, sit down."

Dr. Perry tried to back out of the room, as I was asking him to sit down. He backed into Edward and Carlisle. "Dr. Perry, all we want to do is talk. Really." I smiled, "Now sit down," I said with a tone of acid in my voice. With a shaking hand, he held the back of his chair and lowered into the seat. Sitting in front of him, I asked him questions about my recent theory. "Dr. Perry, where's Viktor?" His voice was shaking as he answered, "I don't know." "He's lying," Edward responded quickly. Dr. Perry looked back, "No, truly, I don't know where he is. He contacts me." Brushing the back of his hand with my fingers. Dr. Perry looked back at me and goosebumps rose on his skin from my touch. I could feel the blood pulsing just beneath the thin layer of his skin, "When was the last time he contacted you?" He looked down at my hand on his, "It's been a few weeks." His hand began to tremble as he pulled way from my touch, "Ever since the night at your house, he's been gone." I blinked once and looked at Carlisle, "Well, I need you to tell me everything you know about him." Dr. Perry's eyes narrowed, "Absolutely not. I could never betray him." Edward quietly scoffed, "You want to be one of his kind. You hate vampires that much that you sought Viktor to change you." Dr. Perry looked back and stood, "Yes. I despise vampires. I want to help Viktor finish his noble work."

I bit my lip, trying to fight my laughter, but a giggle still escaped, "His noble work." My laughter couldn't be controlled, "Are you serious? Dr. Perry," I held up one hand, "look, something is up and I want to know what it is." His heart rate increased, confirming my question. "Dr. Perry," he closed his eyes immediately. I smirked. Nodding to Edward and Carlisle, all of us remained still, holding our breaths until he opened his eyes. After a minute, Dr. Perry timidly opened his eyes and I caught him. "Are Viktor and Darius working together?" He looked at me, "Yes. They have been working together for almost 500 years." Edward and Carlisle moved to stand behind me and asked their own questions. "Why are they working together?" Dr. Perry sighed, "Because they want to increase their numbers. They want to destroy the Italian vampires that killed members of both their families. The one named Caius hunted Viktor and his kind until they were almost wiped out. That is why after all this is done, Viktor will change me. We would protect the new domain in Italy. Darius promised Viktor that he could take over Italy, keeping it free of vampires."

Dr. Perry continued, "Aro sent his humans to tell the wolves where Darius and his kind were. The wolves killed his wife when she was trying to protect their daughter, Melina." I almost broke my hold, "Melina?" Dr. Perry half-blinked, "His only daughter with Cassandra." Edward leaned closer, "Where is Melina?" "No one knows. It is said she betrayed Darius and left. He's been searching for her for centuries." Another thought struck me, "Why is Darius searching for all his descendents now?" "He wants to start an army, but I believe he is also searching for his daughter." Staring at him, the silence was broken from the ringing phone. "Edward," holding out my hand, he dropped the phone in my palm, "Answer it. But sound natural." He raised the phone to his ear, "Hello?" A thickly European accented voice was on the other line, "Michael." "Viktor, where have you been? I was getting concerned." There was a throaty chuckle, "Do not worry about me. Has the Cullens been causing problems?" He looked at me and I raised an eyebrow, "No. They have been keeping their distance."

There was a quiet chuckle on the phone, "Good. You have served us well. Getting us into the girl's house was very well. Her fighting style is rudimentary, but impressive. That whole clan will be useful in the fight." Moving my lips, I mouthed the words for him to ask, "Why would you allow the girl to do that to you? It's degrading." There was a snarl, "It is for the greater good. I preferred that none of my sons saw me in such disgrace. It is shameful enough that we are working with vampires, but they are a great use to me. When they hunted me and my kind, they killed my human family." I made Dr. Perry ask another question, "Is there anything else I can do for you? I want to help you avenge your family." There was a sigh, "You did very well. You have made us proud. The money has been put into your account. Until I call on you again." The phone line died. My body was frozen. I was right. They were working together and we were being recruited. I wonder if the others knew? Darius' followers. Would they be so loyal to him if they knew they were being used. What about Viktor's? Were they willing to work with their enemies. "Michael, what are they planning to make sure we join them?" He blinked, "Darius planned to live with your family. Learn your weaknesses and use them against you. He has done that several times. To gain his children's trust." I scoffed, "Pathetic," stating as I stood, ready to release my hold. "It worked on you." I froze as Edward and Carlisle stepped closer, "What are you talking about?"

Making my compel hold stronger, Dr. Perry told me the truth. "You said your father was murdered. He was murdered by a vampire. A vampire that was watching you for some time. He saw an opportunity for kill your father, leaving you alone in the world. You felt your father was in danger as the vampire was to make you feel that. He kept your father alive until you found them. He was to make you watch your father's death, bite you to start the change and leave. Darius said all of his children's blood smelled so sweet and irresistible to vampires. They smelled like that so that they would be bitten and changed. But, Darius was surprised to find you here and with so many others. That's why he's staying with all of you. He wants to learn more about you, to see which one of you is the weakest. He planned to get the weakest one alone and kill them. He would have said it was the wolves and all of you would have joined his ranks." Before the pain could crush me, I had to know, "Which one is the weakest in our family?" "Esme."

I stood, breaking my hold. Tears spilled from my eyes and my mouth hung open. Dr. Perry shook his head, "What's going on here?" Edward pulled me into his chest and Carlisle pushed Dr. Perry back into his chair, violently. "So, you hate vampires that much?" Suddenly, there was the sound of flesh tearing and Dr. Perry gagging. "You now have my blood in your body," Carlisle threatened, "You have 24 hours to disappear or I will change you myself. You will spend eternity loathing what you are if any of you come near my wife or my family." I looked and saw thew blood smeared across Dr. Perry's mouth and the tears welling in his eyes, while Carlisle clutched at his collar. Carlisle's eyes were fixed on Dr. Perry's face and they weren't Carlisle's caring and gentle eyes. They belonged to a vampire that wanted revenge. This Carlisle startled me. Carlisle pushed Dr. Perry away, making him fall on the floor, "Let's go." I pulled my face out of Edward's chest. My cheeks were stained with my tears, "Now, please." The three of us ran back to the house. Jasper joined us and soon we were passing Emmett and Jacob, who were soon following us.

Jacob slowed and remained outside of the house, but the rest of us ran straight inside. Alice stood, knowing what happened. She threw her arms around Carlisle's waist, trying to calm him. Before any of us spoke, Darius walked into the living room, laughing with Esme. Carlisle's eyes widened and he dashed across the room, taking Esme into his arms. "Carlisle, what's wrong?" He set Esme down by Emmett and took a defensive stance in front of her. Darius took in all of our faces, "Is something wrong?" My teeth were chattering and my eyes bored into his. "Get...out!"

My body began to tremble, "Get out now!" Serena and Darien came into the room with their coven. Darius feigned a smile, "Bella, dear, what's wrong?" A snarl was escaping my lips and Edward held my waist, restraining me. Tears spilled from my eyes and my body began to lean into a crouch. I was going to kill him. I was ready to rid the world of this immortal. Edward tightened his hold on my body, locking me in his embrace, "No, Bella." I fought against his hold, "You killed my father!" Darius stared at me, "Child, I've never…." "LIAR!" I cut off his words, "You knew! You knew it was just me and Charlie. You sent that vampire to kill him! You wanted to take away everything I had, so that I would join you." Esme gasped quietly. My rant continued, "That's why you're here! You're studying our family, trying to find ways to use us." Serena stared at me, her eyes blank and her lips were parted, taking in quick breaths. Darius' face burned red, "No, no, that's not true." I bared my teeth, "Is that why Melina left? Because she saw what kind of monster her father became?" He froze from that emotional blow. "How'd you know about her?" I smirked, "I'm right, aren't I?"

Darius dashed across the room to stare me in the face. Edward tried to pull me behind him, but I refused to be moved, "Where did you get this information?" Edward tried to shield me again, hiding me behind his body, "That's what you do. You know where all your children are. You destroy their human lives, to ensure they stay and follow you." Serena's breaths increased, "Did you do it?" she whispered. Everyone turned to look at her. Darien held her shoulders and tears began to fall down her cheeks. "Did you send that vampire? Like with Bella?" Darius was shaking his head, "No! How could you ask me that?" Serena and I stared at each other. Moving from behind Edward, I went over to her and took her hands. She was crying, "He was all I had. My little brother, Sammy." She opened a heart locket, showing a picture of a little blond boy, "My parents died in a car crash in Austin." Her voice broke, but she continued, "I was running late and trying to get home. When I got home, there was broken glass and blood all over the floor. I called to him, but he didn't answer. When I found him," she pinched her eyes shut and more tears spilled. "A vampire was feeding on him. He dropped Sammy's body and held my throat. I was screaming when he bit me. Then he just stopped. He left us there. Sammy was dead and I was changing. I tried to change him, but it was too late. I couldn't revive him."

The room was silent, but it was an uncomfortable silence. Listening to Serena's story, another, more sinister thought struck me, "You only look for the girls." I looked back at Darius and he was trying to slink away, out of the room. Rosalie and Emmett stood in his path. "Darien said all your daughters are talented. You don't care if sons are created, but the girls are more important." I glared at him, "You're no better than Aro. You search for your decedents, but keep only the talented ones. So that you could have the strongest fighters against the Volturi." Darius dropped his head, but his shoulders were jerking. Picking his head up slowly, we saw he was laughing, "Just like Melina, so perceptive. And like Melina, you are a powerful shield. You would have been my strongest fighter. Meeting you made me want to delay fighting the Volturi. You need to be trained, though. A shield and a mind reader for a husband. You could be leaders in the army. This coven is meant for greatness."

Dashing across the room, I clutched Darius at his throat, "Get out! You have done enough damage! Find your wolves and run! Run away and never return!" He smirked, "You can't hurt me. I am your father!" My anger exploded as I threw his body across the floor. Standing above him, I got my arm wrapped around his throat. I was ready to pull his head from his body. Emmett and Jasper tried to stop me, but I was too determined. "Bella!" Only Edward's voice broke into my concentration, "This isn't who you are. Think of Charlie." I saw Charlie's face. He looked at me with disapproval, This isn't you, love. Let him go. I let Darius slip from my grasp and walked away. Getting him up, Emmett, Jasper and Carlisle ran with Darius, making sure he wouldn't return. Jacob phased and came into the house. He threw his arm over my shoulders, "You're better than me." I smiled and leaned my head on his chest. Edward kissed my forehead and EJ hugged my neck. This was one of the longest day and night of my life.

I learned that Darius intended to take everything from me and he was almost successful. If he had killed Esme, what was certain was that Carlisle would have mourned her for the rest of eternity. He wasn't the vengeful type, but the Carlisle I saw tonight questioned that. Soon, Jacob decided it was time for him to go home. He accepted Edward's gift of helping Billy, with one condition. "Just take care of her. She's still my best friend." Edward smiled, "I wouldn't have it any other way." Jacob kissed my cheek, "Bye Bells." "See you later, Jake." Since Darius' departure, Carlisle was much more attentive to Esme. He came so close to losing her and that would have been a fate worse than death, in Carlisle's eyes.

Serena and her coven remained with us for a few more weeks. She felt betrayed. She has followed Darius for decades. She created others to increase his numbers. She called him "Father." For years, he was her father. She only saw one consolation. She had Darien, Lita, Amy, Raye and Luna. Since Darius' departure, Serena and I did get closer. I had to admit, we were sisters, in some sense. Our families were taken from us and we were bonded in hate and in blood. Hate for Darius and blood from Darius. We had to face it, we were still linked to him. We were purebloods. "Bella, I'm so sorry." I nudged her shoulder, "I'm sorry too. But at least, we're not alone. We lost someone important to us, but we found more people that we could love. That makes up for the pain." She smiled, "You're right. Well, at least I can name this one Sammy." She rubbed her growing stomach, she was pregnant. I smiled, "At least stay until the baby's born." She shook her head, "No, we should go and build our own lives. But you better visit when he or she does arrive." I smiled, "I will. Alice will let me know before you do." She laughed, "Goodbye, Bella." "Goodbye, Serena"

Edward, EJ and I watched Serena and her coven leave. We weren't sure where they were going, but we knew that they were going to be happy. Serena and I shared the same remorse. Both of us were tricked, but I was not sucked in like she was. Serena created everyone in her coven and they followed her now. But one thing was for sure, we haven't seen the last of Darius. He was still out there and he would continue to increase his numbers for his war. A war, I fear, that none of us could avoid easily.