Time for the next stage. I raised my voice and shouted to get everyone's attention.
"I think it's time to get you all up to date with the latest findings that affect us and our future," story time!
Ahh, I didn't expected the Romanians to stay out of the limelight for long. Vladimir spoke up, "Wouldn't it be better to have more manageable numbers, only the leaders and elders in attendance."
"We will all be affected by this, all should know," I responded.
Stefan looked at some of the newborns from the Mexican covens, "The babies need only to be given orders, they have no control."
"Am I old enough to have control? Would you agree that those within a few months of my age or older have a right to be here," I questioned him, keeping my anger out of my voice.
"You have excellent control and proficiency with your gift, a control that comes only with age and experience," he said pompously, "Yes, I agree to your terms."
"Do all agree?" I could see some of the younger vampires looking worried that they would be dismissed but none dare speak against me.
I responded in a very demur voice, "So following the Romanians suggestion only vampires within a couple of months of my age or older than me may stay," then I grinned and added cheekily, "And since I'm not three months old yet, everyone stays." I said the last two words in a hard angry voice.
I turned on the Romanians, "All will have the chance to speak and be heard BUT my word is final. I will not tolerate prejudice or discrimination against any. I have no qualms about adding to the smoke, choose wisely."
"Are you threatening us?" Vladimir growled.
"Threat... promise, call it what you will," my voice held steel and warning, "You have hardly seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my power. Do you really want to antagonise me?" he bowed and stepped backwards in acknowledgement of my words.
I would leave no doubt "It was my power that found each of you and bought you here. I control the shields and the fire. I levitated myself. I see auras and used those to choose the vampires I destroyed. I control the wind to move away the smoke. My power is far greater than you have seen and it is growing daily. As the Romanians kindly informed us, newborns like myself gain control and proficiency with age."
I gave them a minute to allow that to sink in. Then spoke again, "I would like to ask Carlisle Cullen to speak about what he has discovered about our venom and the weakening properties to ourselves due to the impurities in all our food supply."
I had ask Carlisle earlier to explain. It came as a shock to all but the Cullen, Denali and Whitlock families.
Carlisle nodded to confirm he had finished, I took my cue, "I have already implemented a short term solution for the problem. The blood we all drank at the bar today has been purified. I have a supply sufficient for all our needs to continue to drink like that. I hope you all find that acceptable?"
So far so good that got a mainly positive response, a few questions about the method and source of the supplies and logistics for delivery but nothing major.
"This brings us the the other issue we need to deal with. Look up, see all the satellites?" with vampire eyes it is quite easy to spot all the space junk.
Now for the hard sell that will change not only our future but hopefully improve the future for all, "I believe keeping our existence secret is beneficial to us and humans at this time. With all the cameras and surveillance we need to change our habits, a hunter gatherer lifestyle we live at the moment is going to be picked up on. Picking off victims in an alley will soon be caught on camera, bus loads of tourists arriving in Volterra but never leaving will not go unnoticed forever. Even running through the wilderness at non-human speeds will get picked up on. For now, the clean supply I have sourced can keep us going until we can clean up our food sources. To do that we need to clean up the mess they make." I wasn't going to let everyone know that they would never go back to feeding as they had been but one step at a time!
Everyone found their voice, all it took is one to start and ask a question – the stone that starts the avalanche. As the "Buts" and "Hows" died back I started again, "When I told you things are going to change I meant it and it's true for every last one of us!"
I had to laugh at the vegetarian vampires faces, they had all been under the impression I would leave them to continue their current ways and enforce a lifestyle for the others more in line to what they were used to. They had taken a step in the right direction, I intend to take it further, much further.
"Let me finish as that will answer many of your questions," I then informed them of their new lives.
"As you know our brains are far advanced to humans but few of us use that ability. We are all going to school," I raised my hand as the mutters started to build, "You will each get to choose what fields you want to enter. We need to stop humans from contaminating the air, water, soil, food and even themselves so we will be going into business. I already have controlling shares in companies in every emerging alternative technology. I and others have enough money to fund these ventures until they are advanced enough to take the market share and become self funding. When each of you have enough knowledge to start and push forward the sciences or which ever field you choose we can all work together towards a common goal."
"I have put together extensive libraries and learning materials in a handful for locations worldwide. I have already put on a blood supply and shielded accommodations. This is one of the locations. We will all remain here for a for a while to get to know each other better before agreeing which location you would prefer to be stationed at," I think that's enough to keep them shaken for a while, "I will answer any questions this evening when you have had time to come to terms with the new arrangements."
"You may remain in this field or follow the corridor into the castle for your accommodations, please avail yourselves of the blood supplies either here or in the main hall at the castle," no point in telling them not to leave, some will try but there is no way out for them.
I called Edward and the rest of the extended family in my mind, "I suppose you want some questions answering, back in our room in the castle?"
The Denali sisters decided to spend more time with their new found mates but everyone else including Caius wanted answers.
I popped us all back.
Carlisle was the first to pounce with a question, "The blood, where are you getting the blood from?"
There were only three human drinkers in the room, "Caius, Peter, Charlotte, did you all have a drink? The purification and preservation techniques didn't affect the taste too much did it?" I wanted to know from them if it tasted okay before they found out what they had drunk.
"There was a slight tang but I found it very pleasant, nicer than I have had in a while," Caius answered.
Peter nodded at Charlotte as he answered for the both, "It tasted real good, it's nice to have the burn soothed after all the animal blood."
"Can you keep you answers in mind as I tell you where the blood comes from?" I asked with only the smallest of smirks.
Carlisle butt in again, "Did you use the same techniques for the animal blood? It tasted much cleaner than I have had in many years but I couldn't discern which carnivore it was from, a mixture perhaps?"
"Can I start from the beginning on this?" I had to make some confessions and their reactions amused me.
Nods and slight frowns met my question.
"When I found out about vampires and realised Aro probably want to get me to join him. I was still obviously human and still very squeamish over the thought of blood and hunting in general so I looked into alternatives. I realised abattoirs drain the animals so that was an immediate alternative. I bought quite a few abattoirs worldwide and set up new policies to save and label the blood. I knew nothing about blood so set up a few laboratories to research alternatives to human blood claiming the lack of blood donors for a reason. The blood being served today is a mixture of animal bloods with a few chemical additives to compensate for missing compounds to make it closer to human blood. It has already been tested in a couple of hospitals as a replacement product. The animals humans consume are mainly herbivores and most of the vegetarians said you prefer carnivores, humans tend to be omnivores so I wanted it to taste right. The additives may also effect the burn in the throat and eye colour. I need to do more tests," I was getting some incredulous looks.
I gave a tentative smile and waited.
Carlisle started chuckling, breaking into an all out belly laugh. We watched and waited. "So you, you fed every vampire in the world animal blood and they never noticed," his chuckles broke through again, he looked up at Caius, "After all these centuries, you drank animal blood and didn't notice, it was 'tangy but nice'!"
Caius looked horror struck for a few seconds then he started shaking, breaking out into loud donkey like laughter. When he and the rest of the room eventually started to calm down all he could say was, "Isabella, only you, only you," he shook his head at me but continued laughing.
Than he looked at Carlisle, "I wasn't the only one mistaken, 'I couldn't discern which carnivore it was from, a mixture perhaps?' I believe was your analysis of the blood,"
Everyone laughed and started admitting where they had thought the blood was from. No-one had guessed correctly.
I got the 'recipe' for Carlisle. Edward and Carlisle both had enough medical background to understand the findings. I was very surprised to find Emmett had degrees in Chemistry and joined their discussion.
Caius and the others watched before he said in amazement, "This is what you are going to get us all doing."
"Yes, but not just this. I had thought of something for each vampire I know but everyone will have a choice. For instance Rosalie loves cars so I'm hoping she can use her knowledge to help build more efficient engines. Jasper is an electronics whiz, his knowledge can keep us hidden but also learn what the humans are doing, not to mention block them from finding us with his tactical expertise. Esme's house design talents can be put to use designing clean energy efficient houses that are affordable or her love of horticulture put to finding disease resistant plants, natural fertilisers and natural methods for reducing pests even finding different crops or combinations of crops that can be mass grown in a friendlier manner. Alice's fashion sense can be put to work finding alternative materials and designs that will reduce the almost disposable bottom end of the market, her shopping skills can be harness as a buyer for all the new companies we will be setting up, her planning skills used to co-ordinate us all and organise events and get togethers. Emmett's chemical degree is the most versatile, not only from a medical stand point but if he can research alternative fuels, materials, the list goes on," I had thought of so many different careers we could make a difference with now.
"You thought about this didn't you. What about the rest of us?" Caius asked curiously.
"First off, ensure a broad base level of education up to high school standard. From there let interest and enthusiasm direct higher learning. If we need certain skills then let those most interested volunteer towards them," I started to explain.
"What about the Arts?" he asked
"What about them? I made my money from creating art works, of course I think they are important! They are of equal importance, some will find their place in the sciences, others in the arts; hopefully many will alternate between many different disciplines. We all need the variety and diversions. We need to use everyone's strengths not just the obvious scientific ones," Caius had a genuine smile at my words.
He walked to me, placing his hand on my shoulder, "You have bought a breath of fresh air to me. I look forward to joining your classes and finding my place in your new world. I'm going to find my wife and get another drink of your animal blood."
"Caius," he turned back to me, "Don't mention to the others that it is animal blood yet, give everyone chance to get used to all the other changes first."
He left with a twinkle of a smile in his eye. I wished I could have seen his aura when I arrived, just to see the change; I realised I could, I could just look at his past self. Grey, no colour, just shades of grey. The grey in his aura has gone now replaced by a rainbow of shades that brighten and glow clearer with each passing day.