It was still a few hours before dawn when Jacob was woken up by an icy cold hand shaking his shoulder. With a sleepy mumble, Jacob opened his eyes a crack, stretching out his entire body in the process. After dinner last night, Cassie had brought up a slight problem with the rooming situations. It had turned out that when Abraham and Vermundr had first built the estate, they had not seen the necessity of adding any guest rooms into their plans. As a result, the upstairs rooms had originally consisted of Abraham's room, a storage chamber for all the artifacts Abraham and Vermundr had collected during their numerous monster hunting escapades, and finally a third room for Vermundr, which had been specifically reinforced to house a forge, giving the vampire the opportunity to take up a hobby of working with metal during the nights while Abraham slept. When Cassie had moved in, Vermundr's forge had been relocated to the shed out back to make room for her. The storage chamber had also been later re-purposed as a spare bedroom for the late Margret, which was now being occupied by Renesmee. As a result, even though Felicity had lacked the tolerance to stay in a house occupied by vampires for the night and insisted on her and the children staying at the inn in the nearby town, there was still some concern about where to place Jacob. However, Jacob had been quick to wave off the concern, announcing that he was perfectly fine with camping out on the floor of the withdrawing chamber, explaining that even if they had an extra bed for him, he would be simply too big for it. Unfortunately, he was now paying the price for his decision as his back was stiff and sore from sleeping on the hardwood floor all night.
"Mmmm, whuh?" Jacob mumbled when the cold hand shook his arm again. Even though the room was still pitch black, he could still make out the pale forms of Edward and Bella standing there.
"Jake, it's us," Bella whispered. "We wanted to tell you we're heading out now."
"Heading out?" Jacob asked, his voice thick with sleep.
"To Baba Yaga's," Edward clarified. "Abraham and Vermundr said we should head out now if we want to get there and back in the same day."
"Okay, I'm getting up," Jacob announced reluctantly.
"Oh, no, Jacob," Bella said, shaking her head. "It might be better if you stay here. Abraham thinks Baba Yaga will be more agreeable to help if only a few of us go to see her."
"And you decided I should stay behind without asking me if I was okay with it?" Jacob snapped, clearly taking offence.
"Yes, because Edward and I couldn't bring ourselves to wake Nessie up!" Bella snapped in return. "Even though Alice volunteered to stay behind with her, we've all agreed Nessie would feel better if you stayed behind, too."
"Oh," Jacob's annoyance instantly died away upon realizing that Renesmee was also staying behind. "Well, okay then. Good luck."
"Thanks," Bella replied with a quick nod. "We should be back before nightfall."
As Jacob fell back asleep, Edward and Bella left the room and made their way outside where they found Carlisle and Abraham standing by the wagon, securing a large bag with undetermined items beneath the driver's seat.
"What's in the bag?" Edward asked as he and Bella joined them.
"Payment," Abraham replied. "Even if Baba Yaga will be willing to help send you back to your time, she won't lift a finger to do so unless she gets something in return. So, we have to placate her with a large amount of dried herbs, feathers, animal bones, snake skins, and a few vials of vampire venom, courtesy of Vermundr."
"Why does she want vampire venom?" Carlisle's eyes widened in surprise.
"Baba Yaga insists our venom has the same amount of mystical properties as powdered unicorn horn," Vermundr explained as he stepped into view, coming around the corner of the estate accompanied by a strong-looking black horse. "What else can we do but take her word for it?"
"I take it that this horse also came from Baba Yaga?" Carlisle surmised, taking note of the fact that the black horse seemed completely at ease with a group of vampires around.
"No, but you are not far off," Vermundr replied, gently patting the horse's haunch. "Little Renesmee is not the only half breed on the estate. Nightmare was the offspring of a stallion and a púca."
"What's a púca?" Bella asked.
"One of the fairy folk," Abraham explained as Vermundr harnessed Nightmare to the wagon. "Púcas can make themselves look like any animal you can name, more commonly rabbits, goats, dogs and horses. Nightmare, as you can clearly see, favors the appearance of a black mare."
"How'd you manage to get a púca on your side?"
"That's a long story," Abraham answered. "It involves a troop of leshies and a particularly nasty dullahan. That was way back when Vermundr and I were still at that stage between tolerance and friendship."
"Come now, Abraham." Vermundr laughed. "You're making it sound like this was still early on in our ventures. The dullahan was only a year and a half before the chimera, remember?"
"Ah, yes. The chimera," Abraham agreed, nodding in remembrance. "The battle that changed everything."
Before anyone could say anything more, the door to the estate opened, with Cassie and Alice stepping out.
"Oh, I was hoping you hadn't left yet," Cassie announced with a smile, hurrying over with a woven basket covered by a white cloth. "I didn't much care for the thought of you leaving to see Baba Yaga without bringing food with you, Abraham. After all, you will be gone for most of the day."
"Thank you, Cassie," Abraham accepted the basket of food gratefully. "How Vermundr and I managed to get by before you came along, I will never know."
"Sorry again that you couldn't come too," Bella apologized, giving Alice a quick hug.
"Bella, I volunteered to stay behind," Alice reminded. "What if Baba Yaga won't help us, and we have to remain stuck in this time for a while? Cassie and I were going to head into town and look into purchasing period clothing for the rest of us, just in case. I seriously doubt Jacob will be much help to Cassie in selecting anything for us to wear while we remain in this century. Besides, I've already promised Cassie I'd help her with some of her chores around the estate."
"Don't go overboard, Alice," Edward requested. "We're hoping we won't be here for much longer."
"Of course not," Alice promised a bit too quickly. However, her large grin quickly shifted to a frustrated grimace. "Good luck with Baba Yaga. You're not going to have much trouble in getting there, but since everything vanishes abruptly after a point, I can't tell you how your actual visit will go. I suppose I can't see witches, either."
After further goodbyes, Edward, Bella, Carlisle, Abraham and Vermundr all got into the wagon, with Vermundr taking a place in the driver's seat. With one last wave to Cassie and Alice, they were off.
"I don't suppose either of you are going to elaborate on any of those escapades of yours?" Edward asked Abraham and Vermundr once the estate had disappeared from view, looking for a topic to help pass the time during the journey. "After all, you tend to keep your references to them vague."
"Apologies, Edward," Vermundr said, turning his head to flash him a quick smile. "But seeing as it would take nearly seven years to completely fill you in…."
"Well, we could tell them the full story about how we first met Baga Yaga," Abraham suggested. "After all, they should know about that one before they see her. It might give them an idea of who we're dealing with."
"You may be right there," Vermundr agreed before beginning his explanation. "We told you last night about how Abraham and I accidently caused a centicore stampede that resulted in Baba Yaga's garden being trampled. However, we left out the bit when she retaliated by putting a hex on us both."
"What sort of hex?" Bella asked.
"A very interesting one," Abraham chuckled. "It actually subjected Vermundr and myself to a complete body swap. My consciousness became trapped in Vermundr's body and vice versa. It was a week before we finally got Baba Yaga to change us back, but that week was possibly one of the most interesting ones we'd ever experienced. For one thing, it enabled Vermundr to remember what it's like to be human."
"I could do without relieving yourself," Vermundr inputted. "But the sleeping part was quite enjoyable."
"As for me," Abraham continued. "I gained a pretty good idea about what your kind goes through every single day. Including that…" Abraham trailed off, simply gesturing to his throat."
"But if you experienced the burn," Edward spoke up. "Wouldn't you have been unable to resist?"
"Yes, we wondered that ourselves," Vermundr acknowledged. "Considering it was Abraham's consciousness in my body at the time, he logically wouldn't have been able to keep himself from draining his real body dry, especially since he had no experience with the smell of blood beforehand. Baba Yaga called it the paradox clause, stating that Abraham was literally unable to do anything that could cause harm to his true body. That's something many people don't seem to realize about magic. There's always a catch, or fine print, if you will. And that is why it's very dangerous to use magic if you're not completely sure of what you're doing. There may very well be a consequence you weren't prepared for, and once it's triggered, there's no going back." Out of the corner of their eyes, the Cullens all noticed Abraham fidgeting slightly at Vermundr's words, but his expression gave nothing away.
"So, what other ventures would you like to hear about?" Abraham asked, clearly making an effort to change the subject as casually as possible. "How about when we were up against that manticore? Where was that again, Vermundr? Tripoli?"
"No, it was Singapore," Vermundr corrected. "Tripoli is where you fell ill with yellow fever and was bedridden for a few days, moaning and wailing." After a pause, Vermundr turned his head to give Abraham a smug grin. "I was starting to think you were bitten by one of my lot." With that, Abraham and Vermundr both broke out laughing before continuing on with their stories.
The midday sun found Abraham and Vermundr leading Edward, Bella and Carlisle wading up a knee-deep river. They had left the wagon behind a few miles downriver, allowing Nightmare to roam free for the time being, after Abraham had explained that Baba Yaga could become quite hostile if anyone left behind a traceable scent that would lead unwanted visitors to her home. As such, the five friends had to keep from setting foot on dry land, using the water to cover up their individual scents. After they had been traveling for a good five miles, Vermundr paused in the middle of the river.
"There we are," he declared, gesturing to a large white willow growing along the bank. The branches formed a thick curtain circumfusing the entire tree, with half of the circle cutting into the water as well. "That's where Baba Yaga lives."
"Isn't that a bit conspicuous?" Carlisle asked. "You made it sound like Baba Yaga doesn't want people to find her, but she lives in a willow tree, where no other trees are nearby?"
"That would be a problem if it wasn't for the protective spell that's been placed around the tree," Abraham pointed out. "For one thing, you cannot see the tree unless you're immortal. And if you have a conscious intention to attack Baba Yaga, the protective spell will incinerate you before you can even reach the willow branches."
"Needless to say," Vermundr declared. "I suggest no one lets their guard down until we're well on our way back to the estate." In response to that statement, Edward instinctively reached out to take Bella's hand, meeting Carlisle's wary look.
In silence, the five friends took the final few steps up to the willow tree, with Vermundr pushing aside the curtain of branches to allow everyone to step through and get their first glimpses of Baba Yaga's dwelling. Unidentifiable symbols had been painted over nearly every inch of the knotted trunk, and a combination of crystal pendants and potent herbs hung from every bough. Instantly, Carlisle, Edward and Bella found it hard to move. It was as if the air had suddenly grown extremely heavy as an unfamiliar smell overwhelmed their heightened senses.
"Yes, I know," Vermundr announced sympathetically, reaching out to place a steadying hand on Carlisle's back, seemingly noticing their reactions. "That's the dried bloodroot. Baba Yaga burns it like incense, and the fumes tend to have an adverse effect on our kind. In high enough doses, it can even temporally paralyze us. I'm sorry for not warning you about that earlier."
At that moment, a jet of fire shot up from the ground, just inches from the small group.
"Get off of my property!" a harsh voice boomed as a hidden door was revealed in the base of the trunk and a haggard-faced old woman emerged, brandishing a crooked staff. "You are not welcome!"
"Hello, Baba Yaga," Abraham greeted, adopting a pleasant tone. "Fine morning, isn't it?"
"YOU!" Baba Yaga fixed Abraham with a hardened glare. "Did I not tell you that you and your pet vampire are not to set foot on my land again? And yet, you not only disregard my demand, you bring three more with you!"
"We haven't forgotten," Abraham insisted, still maintaining his calm persona. "But we are in need of a witch, and since you are the most powerful witch we know..."
"Stow the flattery up until you come across those who ask for it, you foolish hunter," Baba Yaga snapped, jabbing her staff into Abraham's face in a threatening manner. "Ye both already know I've had my fill of the pair of you. Or did you somehow forget what happened the last time you came knocking at my door?"
"We have… not forgotten that," Baba Yaga," Abraham consented, slightly deflating while sharing a meaningful, almost guilty, glance with Vermundr. "But this time, magic was already involved. This time, we're going to leave it up to you. And it wouldn't be for nothing. We've even brought you payment."
"Well, isn't that generous of ye," Baba Yaga spat, ignoring the large bag Edward had deposited at her feet.
"Please, Baba Yaga," Carlisle spoke up, taking a cautious step forward. "We truly could use your help." In the blink of an eye, Baba Yaga was up in Carlisle's face, the murderous look on her face intensifying.
"And who gave you permission to speak to me, you walking corpse?" she shrieked. Paying no heed to Carlise's visible surprise at the gypsy witch's harsh words, or how Edward and Bella had both tensed up, fully prepared to defend their adoptive father, Baba Yaga started to study him with a critical eye. "There's a certain air about you. You are not from these parts, are you? Explain, Abraham. Now."
"That's what I was trying to tell you," Abraham complied. "This is Carlisle, Edward and Bella. They, along with their friends, Alice and Jacob, and Edward and Bella's daughter, Renesmee, were brought here accidentally from another era, over 300 years in the future. We have reason to believe that they somehow stumbled across the effects of another spell that brought them back to this time. We came here to ask for your help to send them back to their own time where the rest of their family is waiting; Emmett and Rosalie, and Alice and Carlisle's mates, Jasper and Esme, and..."
"Esme," Baba Yaga interrupted, repeating the name. "Essssmmmmeee." After a brief pause, Baba Yaga roughly tapped her staff against the ground. "I well like that name. I help them."
"Just like that?" Vermundr spoke in disbelief.
"Expected me to refuse to help, were you?" Baba Yaga snapped, rounding on him. "Or rather, hoping I would? Perhaps you didn't learn your lesson from the last time, and was itching to make off with another spell to play around with?"
"You stole one of her spells?" Bella asked in curiosity.
"HA!" Baba Yaga cried. "Ye didn't tell them about what you did, did you? Maybe you need some incentive to do so?" Without any more warning, Baba Yaga pointed her staff at Vermundr. An almost blinding flash of light erupted from the head of the staff, and a sharp looking dagger materialized in mid-flight before it embedded itself in Vermundr's right hand, much to the intense surprise of Carlisle, Edward and Bella.
"Was that really necessary?" Abraham demanded as Vermundr yanked the blade out of his hand, wincing as he did so.
"Do not ever question me, Abraham," Baba Yaga demanded, turning and walking back to her tree. "Now you wait here, and I'll see what I can do for you."
Once Baba Yaga had disappeared back inside her tree, the questions began.
"Vermundr, how was that possible?" Carlisle exclaimed. "That dagger just went right through your hand!"
"That would be… because it's not my hand," Vermundr admitted reluctantly, flexing his fingers. "At least, not my original hand."
"Another one of your escapades?" Edward surmised.
"You could say that," Abraham shrugged with a sad frown. "Please forgive us for not filling you in about this earlier. It wasn't that we didn't trust you. But… it wasn't the smartest thing we've done. And seeing as how we're still paying the consequences, we don't enjoy bringing it up unless we have to. But now, I suppose we have to tell you the whole story about the chimera we mentioned earlier today."