Clara Cullen-Taylor
Getting to Elijah's was the fastest experience of my life, going back to the Cullen's was the slowest. Elijah had persuaded his mom to let him out so he could come with us back to the Cullen's, we took his car this time and it took three times the length it took Bella to run with me.
We reached the house just as everything seemed to hit the fan. A man I had never met was standing in the hall talking to Axton. I ran towards him to see his face was frantic with panic.
"I returned only to find you both gone. I promised you I'd help," I caught the end of the man's rant to Axton.
"You did come back. You took her." Axton replied.
"No I didn't. It wasn't me let her take her." He said in frustration.
"No," Axton said in denial, his head shook as tears fell from his eyes. "What will she do?" he asked.
"I don't know Axton. I could never understand that crazy witch," he said in frustration. "I shall go and see her. I will persuade her to let me save her," he said before turning back.
"Wait, let me come with you," he said as he followed him.
"Have you forgotten about something?" Pancrazio asked entering the hall. He had a girls hand in his. I frowned, she looked like Alena but she wasn't her.
"Oh!" Axton said turning to the girl.
"Amari? Why is she here?" Cain asked seeing the girl too.
"I thought it was you but it was obviously Liana."
"Damn it!" Cain yelled in fury as he saw the girl. "She knows!" he sighed before walking over to the girl, his face changed into someone else and the girl immediately smiled. She said something in a language I didn't know and she embraced him.
"She knows you're her father?" Zio asked.
"Yes. She is my daughter, I thought I had successfully hidden her. Lilim wasn't supposed to know about her." Cain answered before turning to the girl in his arms and speaking something to her.
She nodded and tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
"I will murder that witch," he said angrily.
"Welcome to our side," Axton smiled.
"I know I have done nothing to deserve your kindness but could you please watch over my daughter whilst I try and get my other back?" Cain asked Pancrazio. He momentarily looked to Chantelle at his side before taking her hand.
"Yes, we will," he answered before holding out his hand for the girl again. She took it and asked something. Both Cain and Zio spoke to her in the language before the girl nodded and stepped away from her father. I wanted to say it was Greek?
"I am deeply sorry for all the trouble I may have caused you and your family. I know how bad Lilim is and yet I always find myself being caught in her web once more. I vow from now on I will no longer associate myself with the evilness of that woman. You have me as an ally from now on in this war Lilim has saw fit to create." Cain said to Pancrazio.
"Thank you," he said with a nod of his head. Cain kissed his daughters head before taking Axton's hand. Axton's eyes fell on mine before he was gone from the room.
"What is going on?" I asked looking at the girl standing by Zio's side.
"This is Amari, she is another of Axton's sisters. She only speaks Greek but she is now under our protection until Cain returns."
"From where?" I asked.
"Liana took Alena."
"Again?" Elijah asked.
"Yes," Zio answered before turning to the girl.
"So what do we do?" I asked the vampires seemingly just standing there. I knew they were probably thinking things through in their heads but it was frustrating not being told things.
"We wait," Eddie Cullen said coming into the hall with Esther at his side. I know I had met him very briefly before but I was still in awe of THE Eddie Cullen standing in front of me.
"You must be my great something niece," he grinned at me, he approached me and held out his hand. "I amEdward Cullen the second, Edward Masen the third, the father of Edward Cullen the third and the son of... Edward Cullen the first and Edward Masen the second," he said dramatically with a goofy grin. I giggled.
"Nice to meet you. I am Clara Cullen, your sister is my great something grandma," I grinned back. I saw Edward smile in front of me because I introduced myself without the Taylor on the end of my name. I didn't know what the future would hold or what name I would chose but I had to admit, it came out without me even thinking about it and now I knew these wonderful people I definitely wanted to pass on the name just as my mother had and her mother before her.
"Well you can just call me Eddie. The news of you has spread quite a bit through our family." He said as we entered the living room, I assumed this was custom for how the Cullen's waited. Emmett bounded in and put on a football game. Esme sat in the corner with a book. Edward and Bella sat talking to each other but not so discretely observing us interact. Alice had a tablet in her hand undoubtedly flicking through a magazine of some sort, probably fashion. Rose was watching behind her. It was close to the original legendary Cullen's and I sort of just wanted to sit here and watch them. Carlisle and Jasper were busy in the room next door, probably talking to Zio and Axton's newest sister. I felt the urge to go and introduce myself to her but I had no doubt she was worrying right now about her father and she didn't speak English anyway. She'd known her brother all of a few minutes, I didn't know how to introduce myself anymore. I had no idea what was in store for Axton and I. He was immortal. I was not. What relationship could we have when I started to get older? I eyed Bella and Edward laughing. Bella was human once, she faced the same dilemma as me. How did she know what she wanted?
I tried not to let the gloominess of my impending future trouble me. I was with Eddie and Chloe, two people I had only dreamed about meeting. It was my chance to talk to them and to get to know them. Elijah was talking to Emmett about the game and I was happy getting to know my new uncle and aunt. If I could call them that. Chloe was sitting with Eddie now, she was busily talking to Esther at his side whilst he spoke to me.
"So how long have you known you're part of the legendary Cullen's?" he asked. I shrugged.
"All my life but I thought you were all a myth up until a few months ago. I used to tell the stories to my baby sister, I never believed them until Zac walked into my English class. I got a bit sceptical at the eyes," I laughed.
"Zac is your teacher?" Eddie burst into laughter.
"He's actually alright as a teacher," I smiled. "He's dating my mom though, that I'm not too impressed at," I scrunched up my face.
"Oh!" Eddie nearly shouted putting the pieces together from obviously what he heard. "Well I could tell you a bunch of stories to embarrass him in front of your mom if you want," he grinned and winked. Chloe reached out and slapped her husband's thigh. Eddie rolled his eyes.
"He was Renesmee's childhood friend right?" I asked him, I knew all this from Edward but I wondered if Eddie had anything else to add. The men in this family often acted like boys, teenage boys at that.
"Yup. I didn't know him really until high school. By then I was about five. He was dating my wife," he said with a wiggle of his eyebrows. There was so much wrong with that statement I had to think it over in my head to make sense of it.
"Are we really telling her this story?" Chloe interjected. Eddie laughed.
"You pretend like you don't know me," he winked at her. She sighed and turned back to Esther who was grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"I missed you two," she said quietly. As Chloe embraced her friend Eddie continued the story.
I could sit and listen to Eddie for hours. He had such a good story telling voice, so much like his father and yet so different. Edward was timeless, his voice was soothing and I could listen to him all day, it was so enthralling listening to Edward's stories. Eddie was full of confidence and humour, he told me more of the funny stories. It was something I saw in Zac more than the other Cullen's so it shocked me they spent fifty years not really getting along. They were like brothers now but it wasn't always like that.
"It was the same with Edward and Jacob. I was pretty sure I came close to watching those two rip each other's throats out. Now they have slumber parties and 'man time'. They're more girly than my daughters." Bella said after I mentioned how close Zac and Eddie seemed now. I couldn't help but laugh at Edwards eye roll and shake of his head.
"She's deadly serious," Eddie agreed. "I mean Jake is my best friend too but him and dad hated each other's guts. Now they're like an old married couple."
I smiled at my grandfather, I suppose after a hundred plus years with your son in law who is entirely devoted to your daughter you would start to like him at least. Edward smiled back at me and did a small nod.
"Well I hope one day I get to meet Renesmee and Jacob and see for myself. They are spoken about so much around here and even in my myths that they seem so unreal to me, almost like a fairytale you know?" I said to Eddie.
"Here," he said and lifted his hands out. He paused at my head and I nodded. Unsure what he was going to do. The second his hands were on my head my mind was flooded with images. Renesmee laughing, kissing Jacob, dancing, holding her first born son, her daughter and every child after that. On and on, memories of Renesmee, of Eddie's time with her. Of their relationship, their hundreds of years together. As he pulled his hands off my face I felt a real tear fall down my cheek. I didn't know why the emotion hit me like it did but I saw how much Eddie loved his sister and how close they were. Closer than average siblings, they knew each other, like they were connected telepathically almost. I suppose when you spend that long with a sibling you're bound to be close. I only hoped that Sophie and I could a fraction of the relationship Eddie had with Renesmee.
I quickly wiped my tear away.
"Now I can't wait to meet her even more," I laughed. "And Elizabeth too, I've heard so much about you and your siblings from your father. I've only had the pleasure of meeting 2 of the four," I laughed. He smiled at me but shrugged.
"Well let's be honest you've met the best two, you don't need to meet the other two," Eddie said and winked at his sister on the couch. Lexi laughed.
"One day," Edward reminded me. "Whilst Elizabeth is indestructible as Eddie, Renesmee is not. I have ordered her and Jacob to stay out of town until this dies down. Can't have Renesmee caught in the middle of a war… again."
"I understand. I have the rest of my life anyway. I just know how much Sophie already adores Renesmee and yet she's never met her. It's funny."
"Renesmee has a power transcendent to her own understanding. She incapacitates anyone's heart, she has all her life, just the thought of her has people enthralled by her. She was the first child and the first miracle of this family and will always have that kind of power over people. Without her even knowing," Carlisle interrupted. "I am sorry to interrupt the bonding but Amari has sensed Cain on his way back."
As we waited for Cain and Axton to get back I sat there in silence. Elijah was holding my hand supportively and I watched the people around me. Eddie and Chloe were in their own bubble, occasionally they would smile or nod their head, Esther would smile too occasionally. Lexi was sitting with Edward and Bella, the three of them talking at three hundred miles per hour, I couldn't understand a word they were saying. The room was interrupted by the sounds of children giggling and my heart skipped a beat. Was Sophie here? I didn't trust Cain enough yet and I knew I was safe here with all these vampires but after seeing Eddie's memories, I wanted more than anything for that to be me and Sophie. I had to keep her safe.
"It's not Sophie," Eddie said to me with a soft smile.
Ana came running into the room. It was Anelie and Tony's children.
"Tony why are they here?" Anelie asked in the hall.
"I thought I'd come and lighten up your day," he said cheerfully.
"You need to take them back. Cain will be here any moment. He can't even know what they look like Tony," she said with a panicked voice.
"Ok, ok, I'll take them back," he said softly. "Come on Ana."
"No I want to stay with mama," she said.
"You can't baby, I'll see you later ok?" Anelie asked and forcefully removed Ana's little hands from her neck.
"Mama," she cried as Tony took her out of the room and out of the house. Anelie watched after her family with a solemn expression.
"Annie never thought her children would see a threat. She waited this long to prevent this very moment. After what happened with Lidiya's daughter, it put Annie off," Eddie explained to me in a whisper.
"I don't blame her," I whispered back, eyeing Lidiya as she walked over to her sister to hug her. Those two were linked more than anyone in the world. When Lidiya lost her daughter, Anelie lost her daughter. I was sure Anelie had to grieve over the loss just as much as Lidiya did. It must be horrifying having a child in this kind of situation, or even worse. Pregnant with one.
"They'll be ok. They've been through a lot," Eddie told me eying the twins.
"I hope so," I whispered just as Cain materialised into the room. He fell to the floor gasping. Amari rushed over to him muttering things in Greek.
"Where is Axton?" I asked, scanning the room. Panic started to seep into my very being. "Cain? Where is Axton?" I asked as I rushed over.
"He's ok, he's ok," he said looking up at me with a nod. I looked into his eyes and I instantly believed him. I don't know how but I just did. I relaxed immediately.
"Where is he?" I asked.
"With Alena. They're safe. Alena is alive," he said as he knelt up
"What happened?" Carlisle asked as Cain stood and embraced Amari. Cain explained everything. They arrived under the guise of loyalty to Liana. She allowed them to see Alena, alive and breathing. She was unconscious but Axton wanted to stay with her. Cain agreed and told Liana he kept Amari safe in the outskirts of town. In a show of trust he said he'd go get her.
"Are you actually going to give her back to her?" Zio asked in a protective tone.
"I have to. It shows her I'm trying to trust her again. I don't know how we can defeat her but the longer I have her trust the longer we have to figure it all out." Cain explained. Amari looked up at her father, fear clear on her face. I felt so sorry for her. She was in a foreign country, not able to understand a word anyone was saying most of the time, clinging to the one person she knew who kept disappearing on her.
"I will find a way to update you as soon as I can," Cain said to everyone before turning to Zio. "Thank you for your hospitality to my daughter. It won't be forgotten," he said as he disappeared from the room, Amari with him.
The whole room seemed to visibly relax. It was a few moments before Jasper started to smile. He looked to Zio and he smirked back before nodding.
"What?" I asked. "What did I miss?" I asked as everyone around me became visibly a lot happier.
"We're going to win," Jasper turned to me. He swallowed as he was suddenly reminded of my scent in the room.
"How do you know that?" I asked.
"For the first time since this all started we have a real ally. We're the closest we've ever been to winning this. Cain is the biggest alliance we can get. We have both Axton and Cain on the inside. They'll relay information to us and we'll find a way through this." Jasper announced. I smiled then.
"That's such good news," Elijah said taking my hand. I smiled up to him at my side.
"It is." Edward agreed as he smiled at me.
"So are we going to celebrate in traditional Cullen style or what?" Emmett asked.
"Yes!" Aurora called from the top of the stairs. "I'm all in for a celebration. We're gunna win this," she said bounding down the stairs.
"I'll go buy the alcohol," Emmett called.
"Hold on," Carlisle called. "No alcohol," he interrupted. Various people moaned in protest. Alcohol? Could vampires even feel the effects of it? I saw Eddie nod and wink at me.
"We can have a traditional Cullen celebration after Liana is dead in the ground or we have a solid peace treaty in place. Until then we still need to be fully aware of our surroundings. You can party all you want but no alcohol," Carlisle called out. Emmett huffed.
"He's right. We can't be hindered now, it will only make us vulnerable," Jasper agreed. "However, I'm sure my darling wife could throw something for this milestone we have achieved. An alliance is a big deal, we need a bit of happiness around here," he said smiling down to Alice at his side. Her smile lit up like a light bulb and before I knew it the house was decked out with fresh food, non-alcoholic drinks, music and a dance floor.
Watching the Cullen's dance had me in stitches. I loved that such timeless creatures still enjoyed themselves and danced like they were from the 21st century. None of the music was from this century either. It was all really old stuff, on a USB in an ancient sound system. Elijah and I were laughing at them dance to Gangman Style, I had only seen videos on the internet of this kind of thing. Many of the Cullen's had come over to the main mansion to join the party, including Zac, my mother and Sophie.
"Are you enjoying this?" Bella asked me. I smiled at her.
"Definitely," I giggled.
"Here, come dance with us," she said and took my hand.
"No way," I laughed as she dragged me to Edward who was with Esme.
"Look, like this." Bella smiled as she tried to teach me a 21st century style dance. I wasn't sure I'd like to have lived in that century.
I could honestly say, that night, was the most fun I'd ever had in my life time. It was nice to see Bella and Edward smile, to see them be parents, and to see them be couple-y, sitting in the corner involved in only each other. It was nice to see Esme and Carlisle dancing too, only to the slow songs but so gracefully as Carlisle swung Esme around in a waltz. Alice and Jasper were just amazing, they had a perfectly choreographed routine to every song that came on. Rose and Emmett were way to close for comfort for a majority of the songs. They just needed a room half the time. Their daughter Chantelle would have to separate them in embarrassment. Chantelle and Zio were magical too. I had never seen Pancrazio smile so much. I knew he had a hard job but Chantelle was literally the light in his world and seeing them together happy made me see him in a much less daunting light. Esther danced with Aleksander but most of the time he just held her close to him, I imagine being so close to losing her made him extra protective. Their relationship had such an ancient feel to it. They were so old and yet so young to look at, they had an entirely unique relationship from the others. Zac was with my mom the whole night, it was like he couldn't leave her alone. She was happy too, it was nice seeing my mom smile after everything, I never thought I'd see her smile again after my dad died but I was glad she found happiness. I may not have liked Zac at the start but anyone who makes my mother smile like that gets my approval. Lidiya spent the entire night on Matthew's lap, they were chatting and smiling at each other, Matthew's hand permanently rested on her lower stomach playing with the material of her shirt and kissing her when no one was watching. Lexi and Ben were the same. They were in their own little bubble, smiling and laughing with each other barely noticing anyone in the room except when Edward and Eddie dragged Lexi onto the dance floor for a dance. Sophie, Ana and Eva, the three children of the Cullen's were adored on all night by everyone and anyone. Not one of them were put down unless it was to dance. The three of them had fast made friends and I smiled at my little sister dancing with our distant cousins. Anelie and Tony were the children wranglers, constantly chasing after the three girls making sure they were fed, watered, changed and clean and when they were finally tired they were there to hold them as they slept. Sophie included. Chloe and Eddie were just the best part of the night. Eddie didn't just dance with Chloe, he danced with nearly everyone there. He had everyone laughing, smiling and playing tricks on each other. I could see he was truly the life of a party.
Time flew pretty fast and Elijah was being called by his mom to come home so I decided to go back with him and stay the night. I desperately wanted to talk to him about Axton and what he thought I should do. So we quickly said goodbye to my family still partying the night away and drove off back to his house. The happiness in the house was still radiating inside me as we drove back.
Elijah and I were laughing, for the first time since our world was turned upside down I felt like I was back with my best friend and we were oblivious to the supernatural world and drama around us. Elijah and I were singing at the top of our voices, laughing and remembering things from when we were little and for just a few precious moments I was happy. I was complete and I would only feel that with Elijah. He was my sun and I couldn't live without him.
So the next few seconds tore my world apart. I saw him standing there in the road. My first thought was why was Axton in this part of the state when Cain had mentioned earlier that Liana was held up on the other side of Arizona.
The second thing I registered was the look of distraught and pain on his face and the shine of a tear on his cheek.
I remember calling out to Elijah to watch out. I remember the sound of the brakes screeching on the tarmac and I remember the jolt of the impact.
It's funny, my first thought before it went black was how it might look when Axton came out of this untouched. Because I knew he would be. It would be like a scene from a horror movie.
The next thing I registered was the pain in my leg and the silence around me as my vision blurred and everything went black.
Don't hate Axton just yet.
