Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight, but not Merged Souls: Trying for Normal

Author's Note: So this is the end of the story. For those of you who have been kind enough to review and have liked the story I thank you for your support and have appreciated each comment more than you'll ever know.

Chapter 15

EPOV

When I found Masen on the floor by the wall and Anthony trying to wake him I was beyond furious and on a scale of one to ten I was a twenty... no I was off the scale. I have never been this angry except once and that was with Jacob Black. When I turned and didn't find Beth I panicked I called out to her actually I yelled and when I got no response I went past the point of anger and entered a whole new realm of hatred. I knelt by my sons and managed to ask in a controlled voice, but Anthony's eyes got huge when he looked at my face, I don't know what he saw but it scared him. "Anthony where is Beth?"

I finally saw that he was crying while holding onto his brother who was still unconscious, "He took her Dad, Masen tried to stop him but he kicked Masen across the room and then he grabbed Beth and ran. I couldn't leave Masen, Beth yelled really loud at me Dad that I had to stay with Masen and wait for you. I wasn't afraid but she was just so damn mad Dad and Masen was hurt."

I watched my son's tears course down his cheeks and knelt in front of him, "She was right Anthony, and you did the right thing. What did this man look like and which way did he go?"

Anthony hiccoughed. "Remember how Seth looks when he's half way through the phase, you have to be really quick to see it but he looks like half man and half wolf?

"Yes."

"Well that's how this guy looked, only he never finished changing, but I guess he couldn't because then he wouldn't have been able to carry Beth. He was big Dad but not as big as Seth is when he's phased. And Dad he didn't have any scent none at all. He jumped out the window with Beth. I didn't see which way he went. Dad... Beth... she was real scared! She didn't act like it but I could hear it in her mind, she's really, really scared."

The others with me had heard it all and Gideon headed for the door. "I'll get Donna. Next to Reg she probably knows the area better than anyone that we can trust." I looked at my sons and picked up Masen he stirred in my arms and opened his eyes. "I'm sorry Dad, I tried. Uncle Emmett and Mom should know that leverage isn't enough so she must be sneaky. Dad my head hurts. Did you get him yet?"

I smiled at my brave son. "Not yet, but we will Masen."

"When you do Dad, kick his ass for me!"

"Wales will you take the kids back to Bella for me please, and Seth I think you'll be of more help if you phase. Emmett, Jazz, Seth and I are leaving now. Wales you and Gideon meet my brothers and the others in the courtyard then follow as quickly as you can.

Seth and I jumped out the window he phased in mid jump and we headed out through the open courtyard doors... Kincaid was sitting by the gates his head beside him Godard had obviously got the jump on him but why had the gates been open to begin with? That was a puzzle for later. I tried to mentally tap Bella I know she had heard the news I heard her scream and her crying as we passed down the road that led out of Volterra. She wasn't letting me in, I needed her to try and form a circuit perhaps we could boost my power and I could get into Beth's head. Then I smelled pipe tobacco and leather on my right hand side "Dad?" I looked to my right and I thought I could make out the outline of my father's upper body, he turned and there was a light blazing in his eyes. "You can go faster than us right?" He nodded "Then can you scout ahead, Beth needs you and if you can calm her I may be able to get a read on her, right now all I'm getting is a blur." He nodded and then faded out. Seth looked at me quizzically with his wolf eyes "Hey he's my Dad and I'll use whatever advantage we have."

I tried to get through to Bella again and suddenly I was hit with a power surge that just about knocked me off my feet, I stumbled forward. And for a second I was in the library with everyone they were in a circle and I mean everyone. I caught my balance and was back with Seth still running through the woods. A Red fox was now at his side and they were both keeping their eyes to the ground. I could hear Bella now, she was terrified for our daughter, I could hear Alice, Anthony and Masen and finally I could hear Beth. "Daddy is that you? Daddy it's really dark but we've stopped running and its cold Daddy. I can hear water like a creek not too far away and lots of trees making noises like the wind is rushing through their leaves. Daddy... grandpa's here with me, he kissed my cheek and is holding my hand, Daddy I can see him sort of, oh no Daddy so can the man thing! He's coming back towards us. He just stopped and turned away. Daddy there's someone else coming...It's a lady a really old lady and they're arguing. I don't know what they're saying but it sounds weird... Daddy I'm sacred! The lady is coming towards me Daddy and she has a knife ...DADDY... HELP ME!"

I lost her connection, I relayed to Donna and Seth what she had told me and I ran faster than I had ever run in my life as Donna told me where to go. There were some cliffs off to the northeast they weren't high but they were windswept and there was a narrow river that ran along the base of them. As I ran I spied a fire in the distance no one other than a vampire would have ever seen it. I made for that spot, and when I reached the cliffs I scaled them like I was climbing up a ladder. Standing behind the fire was Godard if that's who he was. And behind him was an old woman holding a very large sharp knife. Godard had a hold of the old woman's upper arm and was shaking her. She seemed unmoved by the violence and she didn't take her eyes off my daughter. She finally slashed downwards with the knife stabbing Godard repeatedly in the arm. He didn't let go but howled to the point that anyone could hear him. Then she slashed upwards with the knife and slit his throat silencing him, he fell to the ground by the fire blood pouring from his neck and dying quickly. She took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off of the knife and her hand. She did not give the man beast at her feet another look as she turned to my daughter once again. My father had positioned himself between my daughter and the hag, for hag she was. Her visage when she turned towards the fire was cadaverous and almost animal like. Her teeth were yellow and twisted. She had to be almost six feet tall though she was bent at the waist as if from pain or extreme age. Her hair was long and wispy yellowish grey and she was dressed all in black clothes that were reminiscent of a century earlier.

She was too close to Beth for me to rush her but she was aware of my presence. She cackled a bit and then turned completely towards the light and me. Her eyes were yellow but not like mine more like an animal's. Her skin was pox marked and greyish it had the appearance of dry cracked paper. Her nose was long and crooked.

And when she spoke, she had a strange accent. "Come into the light vampyre." and she reached for a flaming brand and laughed again, "That is if you dare."

I stepped just to the edge of the light. "Let the child go." I could hear the rest of our party arriving at the base of the cliffs and I spoke at vampire speed to warn them not to move until Jasper gave the go ahead.

The hag cocked her head to the side. "What is this child to you? She is no more than a snack at best to one of your kind surely there is better prey available in the town. This one child was hardly worth the effort of chasing my son all this way."

I had to stall for time and think of a plan, my father stood his ground between Beth and the hag not that it would do any good but he was at least keeping Beth calm. I motioned for her to be silent. And through clenched teeth I rasped. "I have already laid claim to this child and no one else shall have her, witch!"

"Hmm you're a very unusual vampyre, do you wish to debate ownership of the child? Normally I would love to talk with a fellow creature of the night but I'm running short on time. The apex of the new moon will be upon us soon and I must have her flesh and blood. So I suggest you leave. I can't attend to my spell and watch my back against a hungry vampyre at the same time."

She hissed at me when I didn't move and straightened to her full height. "If you stay here you're a fool, my magicks are powerful and mark my words I can and will strip you of your immortal life."

She smiled in what I'm sure she thought was a charming fashion, and then started to turn back to Beth. My daughter gasped and whimpered when she saw the hag's face in the firelight and looked to me with pleading eyes. I smiled at her and lifted my chin over my shoulder, her uncles and our friends were now spreading out around the clearing and cliff side. But the hag was still too close to Beth.

Seth and Donna came into the clearing and sat on either side of me. Wales's thoughts let me know that the hag would consider them a good omen. She looked at both of them over her shoulders. "Welcome children, if you stay here with me you will see something that happens only once in a lifetime. Stay close to me young ones and learn."

I had to stall, give Jasper time to analyze the situation and get him as much information as I could. "Witch, who are you? And how dare you come onto the lands of the Volturi without their permission."

"The Volturi are all dead, slaughtered by their foolishness. They thought they could eliminate those spoken of in prophesy. I warned those idiots Aro and Caius, even Marcus knew but he said nothing he just smiled when I told the brothers, But then he was never really one of them... how do they say it now, it was all smoke and mirrors on his part. And as to who am I? I am Medee de la Barthe the greatest sorceress of my clan!"

"Don't you mean Medee Godard?

"Ah perceptive Vamprye so you know my greatest shame! The family of Godard are idiots all of them. But I was young when I married Charles, he was very handsome and he to me about many things including that he was rich. But I took care of that for him. But he couldn't manage money to save his life. Do you know he even tried to do away with me! He denied me the elixir of immortality. He stole my beauty and my youth but I had other ways to store my life force. And I did for centuries just waiting for my chance to get back at him and that idiot over there. Do you know that Eric wept like a baby when I slaughtered our daughter for the greater good? I was the one that had to endure his attentions to beget the girl, to carry her and then birth her. And he begrudged me the opportunity to prolong our lives beyond the ten life times. You vampyre, I'm sure you're aware of how precious the gift of immortality is."

Jasper wanted me to keep her going. This woman was sick beyond belief and I think dangerous. But she seemed to like to tell her tale so I encouraged her with a smile and shrug. "Then his idiot father allowed the elixir to fall into the hands of the Volturi. My stupid husband died about fourteen months ago when Eric gave me the elixir instead of his father. It was very funny actually, they kept my petrified body in my husband's bedroom he was afraid to bury me in case one of my inept relatives should try to resurrect me."

She cackled with glee as if having told the best joke. "If he had only known that I had always been present in that room just waiting for my chance he might have died of shock and saved Eric the trouble. Eric had gone to Volterra at Aro's command. He wanted a family of vampyres annihilated without the Volturi being suspected. Eric came back from Volterra with two doses of the elixir. But he was tired of living under the thumb of his father and had delayed his return as long as he could."

She licked the blade of the knife and looked back at Beth, then turned to me again. "With his father confined to bed Eric poured his dose of the elixir over my body. It was so sweet but it was not enough to bring me back to my former glory. Eric left us to plot the downfall of these vampyres not realizing what he had done. Once some of my strength had returned I finished off my husband. I needed to make more of the elixir so I followed my husband's bastard Brain to the home of the Richmond's and found that they had what I needed a virgin daughter from a shifting family her flesh and blood would be powerful. But she was living abroad. So I appeared before Eric and Brian and told them to get me the girl and I would give them power and riches beyond their wildest dreams. They were so gullible but greed is a great motivator.

I found though that I had unfinished business at the Richmond home. Brian was now married to the widow of the last shapeshifter of the only decent family I had ever known. I should have married a Richmond as my family had wanted. But they had rejected me, can you imagine that, the great Medee de la Barthe...was rejected! So I killed that widow after all the bitch and my husband's bastard Brian had killed the last worthy Richmond for greed and came out of it with nothing."

She was mad, really bonkers! She cackled again and made to turn back to Beth. "Enough, vamprye! I need more of the elixir. That idiot Brian could not secure me the Richmond virgin, but Eric did get me one when I promised that we would be together again once I was restored. What a simpleton, as if I would let him ever touch me again." She turned back to Beth, "Now my sweet child you will be sacrificed for the greater good your blood and flesh will see me into the next millennium."

She took a step towards Beth who screamed and Jasper yelled in my head to go, NOW! I launched myself over the fire diving onto the back of the witch and pulling her away from Beth. We rolled across the clearing and into the fire. I didn't care as I felt the flames lick at my back. I came up in a fighting stance after ripping off my shirt. The witch was standing there holding her knife and ready to defend herself. My brothers and our friends came out of the brush and surrounded us. She smiled as she really got a good look at me for the first time, and then she laughed so hard that her shoulders shook. "Oh this is priceless! For over 900 years I have lived in one form or another preparing for you and here when I am at my weakest and least desirable and you appear."

A shudder ran through my body as I looked at her with loathing. "You should have been mine Edward Cullen there was a time that you hunted the humans, I felt it and you would have been mine but for that moron Godard. A Prophesy foretold that we would be the greatest couple the vampire world would ever know. But now you are a yellow eye and beyond my influence. Ah I see it in your eyes, you have found the shield. It would seem that I have missed my chance, too bad we would have been great together Edward Cullen. But the shield she is not a human any longer is she? She's a vampyre like you...hahaha...so the prophesy will not be fulfilled after all. There will be no half and half children born of the vampire's human mate. Do you know how many vampyres have tried to become the 'one' by mating with a human? Well I wonder where that leaves our world now with no saviours. The Volturi are not the worst things out their Edward Cullen. The worse is yet to come."

She smiled at me and dropped the knife. "And I would sooner die than face them." Then she stepped into the fire and went up like a roman candle without a word or a whimper.

I turned to Beth and opened my arms and she ran into them hugging me tightly around the neck."Daddy..." And my baby burst into tears. I hugged her close to me and cooed into her ear telling her I loved her and that she was safe. "I want Mommy! Daddy I want to go home; I want to go to our new house in Canada...please."

Everyone stepped forward, Seth and Donna remained in their phased form. I picked up Beth in my arms and looked at my brothers "We're going home tonight." Jazz whipped out his cell phone and called Alice. I pulled out mine and dialled Bella for Beth, she took the phone and said "Hi Mommy...Daddy saved me!" And then she started to cry again. I could hear Bella on the other end trying to calm her and then she started to cry as well. Bella pulled herself together and said "Edward... I know you can hear me, I want to leave, and I want to go home."

We ran back to the castle in a tight formation. When we entered the gates the family and our luggage were all there. Kincaid had been reassembled by Carlisle and was sitting on the edge of the fountain talking to Alastair. I made my move towards him but Rose stopped me. "No Edward. It's not what you think." I raised my eyebrow. "He's simple minded Edward. When Kincaid was changed he had an IQ that was barely average, he can't even fight to save his own life. Kincaid prefers to be a veggie vampire because he has never desired human blood ever. He can barley hunt for himself. But he's excellent with numbers, hence why you should never bet with him. Alastair said he was probably a mathematical savant, but in the 16th century he was thought to be possessed. Alastair actually changed him to prevent him from being burned at the stake and has taken care of him ever since. So brother I'm asking you to leave him alone." I looked hard at him and heard his thoughts and that he was as simple as Rose had said.

Penny and Reagan brought the cars around from the garage and we loaded them up. Wales and Reagan were going to stay in Volterra and research the drivel Medee had spouted on the cliffs. Alastair came out to the courtyard. "Edward, the Godard in our dungeon is dead. His chest was ripped open and is heart was pulled out, looks like his brother visited him before taking Beth."

Bella took Beth out of my arms hugged her tightly then kissed her before she passed her to Esme. "Edward I need a vacation the worse way possible. But what I really want is to go home, but not to Forks, to Canada. I want to go someplace that hasn't been touched by any of this. I want to decorate our home, watch our children grow up and when the time comes go to school with them. I want to watch them fall in love and get married. I want to be a family and I want to be surrounded by our family. I want to be so immersed in the love that we have for each other that nothing can touch us ever again. Promise me that Edward ...promise me that!"

She was leaning into my chest with her fists clenched and her body racked by dry sobs. I pulled her in tight to me and kissed her hair and her cheeks and then whispered to her loud enough for our whole family to hear. "Bella I can promise you everything you asked for, except that nothing bad will ever touch us again, we apparently have a destiny. I don't know what it is, and I don't care. But whatever comes we will do what we have always done, we will love each, enjoy our lives together with our family and friends, and when the time comes we will stand together like always if anyone dares to try and take that away from us. Come on lets go home."