"No time like the present, let's get this over and done with," with that I transported Edward and I back to Volterra, into Marcus's study with Carlisle, Eleazar and Caius. We stood in front of they hands linked.
They all flinched as we materialised in the room, the Caius laughed, "Do you know how many centuries it is since anything surprised me? Dearest Isabella, then you come along."
"I may be surprising quite a few before the day is out. My visions, well future sight has combined with the route risks assessment ability. I can see the best route through current events but …. well I'm going to need you three to put your trust in me. We need to clean house and I will get dirty in the process but it has the best outcome. Will you help?" I turned to Carlisle first.
"I trust in you, you have my complete support," he placed his hand on my shoulder giving a gentle squeeze.
Eleazar looked at me with his gift, "Young one you have my trust and support also. Your gifts increase and grow each time I see you. With the gifts you hold you could take anything, I believe you are the Pentacle and evil has no power over you."
"You have shown me the light after so long, how could I not trust in you?" Caius said as he grasped my other shoulder, "What do you need of us?"
"I intend bring every vampire in the world here for this meeting. I will inform them I am now the ruling power. Any that won't follow my rules will leave as smoke. The way all vampires live will change from today," yes and that went down like a lead balloon.
"Every vampire here, how?" "Leave as smoke, you can't," "Change, change how?" all four of them spoke at once all covering the main points.
"This is where the trust starts..." eyes widened but no more was asked.
"The meeting will be held in the clearing where I have practised. I will bring everyone in when I'm ready. Some representatives from the Quiluete's will also be in attendance in a few days, after the initial 'shocks'," I set the ball rolling.
I discussed many ideas with Carlisle and Edward, they were the best qualified for some aspects of my plan. My year of travelling gave me time to think how I would like to live as a vampire. I had thought of many things during my year travelling and set a few things in motion in anticipation of my change. My powers and current position just moved the plans and pie in the sky ideas forward and to a higher level.
I took a break to bring Peter and Charlotte in to spend some time with Jasper. I forewarned them they would be seeing some faces from their past but my shields would contain any situations. They all need to close the door on the dark chapter of their lives that was Maria.
I went to the clearing with Edward, Carlisle and Eleazar to start bring in the guests and get them settled for the meeting. Caius presence for the first round of arrivals would just make them more nervous, not the start I want. Caius had a reputation that preceded him, fear kept many vampires in line with the old way of life. Fear would help the transition, even more so when the need for it was gone.
Carlisle and Eleazar have many friends over the world. Friendly faces would make this part go easier.
With the Denali's and the Cullen's in place I used my gift to see those friendly faces then pulled them in. In general the shock and fears soon settled. Amun from the Egyptian coven took some calming as he is so distrustful we daren't even use our empathic abilities, a few minutes of talk would soothe egos for many years to come. The Irish and the Amazon covens took to events really well.
Of the nomads, Alistair remained nervous but that is his normal state. Garrett came in with a defensive attitude that took some getting past but I saw a relationship tie between him and Kate so I called Kate forward, as their eyes locked the tie of mates strengthened immediately, between curiosity and the tug of the tie, he listened after that.
The Romanian Coven are so similar to Caius, not that I would ever tell him that! They have good hearts but it's too long since they used them in their pursuit of power. They were intrigued more for how it could work in their favour but they were here now and willing to listen.
Many of Peter and Charlotte's acquaintances I bought in next. They were much calmer than they would have been as they had already been forewarned but the shock of the manner of their arrival kept them on edge.
As each individual came in I gave them each a shield but ensured the presence of the shields remained undetected.
I pulled all the Volturi in next, no need to talk to them as they at least expected this.
The ones that could be talked to individually were here now. I had to find the rest and keep them from killing each other. Combing the world with my gifts I dragged every source of vampire venom into the clearing. The Mexican covens tried to head for each other throats on sight. The Asian vampires were undoubtedly nervous but less aggressive. I was shocked to find four arrivals with venom in their systems but a heart beats as well, they were skittish.
At last, I believe every vampire in the world was in attendance. I levitated myself and called them to order.
The levitating caught the attention of many but the fire ball I used to decorate the inside of the huge shield containing the entire clearing bought silence. It looked like we were inside a huge fire ball, very impressive if I do say so myself!
I'm playing on most vampires biggest fear, fire. It's the venom that is flammable, a flame itself can't hurt an intact vampire but fear is rarely rational.
Giving my voice a power filled resonance I addressed the field, "I bought you all here. I am the Pentacle. The Volturi now answer to me. All must answer to me," how to keep a straight face, I sound like a comic book bad guy!
That's all it took, at that I heard the first voice of dissent.
"I answer to no-one, and definitely never a female," a snarl rang out.
"Any others that believe that?" I asked in a calm, reasonable voice, "Any one that thinks that if you want to move over to the right side of the clearing and you may leave."
Disbelieve and distrust hit me like a wave, hey they were right not to trust me but the action gave a bit more time and gave a lower head count. The speaker moved to the right as did some of the nomads and many of the Mexican covens. Many stayed in place waiting to find out what happened to those that moved. Not all moved of their own choice, many followed their sires.
"Any more for any more, last chance. Those that haven't moved to the right I take that as your willingness to abide my my rules or suffer the consequences," so corny, I wish I could giggle but the seriousness of the situation, the lies I needed to tell and the horror of what I was about to do had my nerves on a knife edge.
A few more stragglers moved to the right but many crept further left to distance themselves.
As each vampire had arrived I judged their aura as I slipped the shields into place. Those with the blackest auras would never try to fit in, I would have nothing to work with to try and lighten their outlook. I highlighted each shield. Their positions following my instructions would have no bearing on the first house clearance but I marked each shield to keep a closer watch on them. I looked at each of their reason for moving right of left. The reasons were varied many of the darkest souls stayed unmoving waiting for me to show my hand. Their choices and reasoning were the reason for my seemingly random game.
"Those I have judged may leave NOW!" as I shouted the word now with a heavy heart I powdered and incinerated the very blackest of the auras.
A poof of dust then a flare of flame, smoke drifted up in a pattern of my creation. I made a huge pentacle smoke ring, it felt so clichéd but every little detail helped toward the destination I want us all to reach.
Fear and anger erupted. I stilled every shield. No-one could move. The fear escalated even further.
I let the fire licking the shield disappear and let the sun back in. As the outer shield changed so the tenor of the majority those inside the shield, all changed to a slightly brighter outlook. I softened the shields as they relaxed, allowing some more of fear to dissipate but leaving a high level of awareness and vulnerability.
"Are you ready to listen yet? Is anyone still under the misapprehension that they have a choice other than my way or smoke?" I looked at the faces then continued, "Those that have gone had black souls, they would never contemplate any other way. I despise violence but unfortunately it is the only way to reach the peace and harmony in our future. Newborn armies will have no place in the new order. The stone age hunter gatherer ways will no longer have a place. Change is here, now, whether you like it or not. You have seen the only option for those that will not change."
Many knew at least one that was now smoke, they knew how evil and cruel they had been. They feared for themselves but few doubted that those that had gone had been black inside their hearts.
"I have allow you to move. Any that still want to leave may do so in the same manner of those just departed; Otherwise, you are all guests," I took an unneeded breath as a pause before continuing, "In recent months much information has come to light that has serious impact on our future. We all need to be aware and work towards a better life for all. I apologise for the dramatics and the manner of calling this meeting. If everyone would like to relax and help themselves to refreshments before we continue, there is a bar with blood available set up over there," I pointed over to what looked like a beer tent.
Tempers and fears were running high. A bit of socialising would give everyone time to come to terms with the threat that I appear to pose and the unknown changes.
I went over and drank a couple of glasses myself to prove to them it is safe. Others gradually overcame their fear and partook.
The Volturi only lost two members, Santiago and Corin. The Mexican covens were depleted to less than a third of their original number. Still over three quarters of the vampires remained.
A few more were lost trying to attack me as I walked round. Only one attacked under orders; she survived but her sire that gave her the order did not. I could have easily taken them out in the first wave but this way reinforced my strength and let them see I would only remove those that deserved it.
Maria, Jasper's sire, had made it past the first cull by the skin of her teeth but she tried to attack Alice to hurt Jasper so she joined with the smoke of the others.
There were a few other altercations in some cases all the combatants joined the smoke, in others only one or two deserved the same fate.
I used Marcus's ability to start and bring together new pairings and new groups. I can see the potential of where friendships and relationships can flourish. Mates are the easiest to see but all positive bonds will be needed to bring the future a step closer.
The Denali sisters will be so much easier to cope with now; Kate was with Garrett, Felix is seriously taken with Irina and Tanya is with a Scandinavian vampire by the name of Torsten.
I relaxed some of the destructive and abusive relationship ties as I healed and brightened many auras, not too much as yet but enough to get things on a better track. Many auras were naturally getting brighter as they realised there is a different way to live out of the darkness they have been forced into. Only a couple blackened with envy and greed, unfortunately they may not make it though the day. I can open the door to change by helping to brighten the aura they have but only they can choose to walk through the door to the brighter future, it's the choices that colour the aura not circumstances.
I took the time to find and speak to the four with vampire venom and a heartbeat. It turns out they are hybrids, all half siblings, three girls and a boy with the same father but different mothers; Children born to a human mother with a vampire father. Their father, Joham, was among the group that went up in smoke in the first wave. The half sisters were hurt by his loss but I could see they would soon heal as they realised how much better their life would be without his oppressive influence. Unfortunately all the mother's had been lost in childbirth but when I checked the hybrids future I had a smile from ear to ear! But that is for another day!
Stage one complete. I hate myself for the losses. I will have to live with their deaths on my conscience for the rest of my time. The losses of family and friends that I saw if different decisions had been made gave me the strength to act to get the different outcome. I can see the bright future looking easier to reach now.