Now we're getting somewhere.
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Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga or its contents.
Warning: MINOR swearing. K+ or T
Chapter 13: Welcome Home, Stranger.
Leora POV
I was scared shitless, but at the same time, I felt confident in my case. The combination confused me, as it probably did Jasper.
Aro turned, and the clump broke apart, taking on the previous formation.
"With those words from my brother," Aro said, "I will now speak to the witnesses, as is standard procedure."
He walked over to where the Denalis stood the contrast between them almost humorous. Almost.
"Eleazar, how good it is to see your familiar face again!"
Eleazar's face was hard in response. I could only imagine his response screaming in his head.
"You have been called to witness for this shape-shifter vampire child. What did you witness?"
He took a deep breath. "The girl does not grow or change. Her heart beats slowly, and she retains a small amount of body heat, but any change would not come about soon, and when it does, it will be so minimal that it would take eons for her to noticeably change to the humans."
Great. Same look for eons. What a thrill to look forward to.
"What of her ability to be trusted?"
A hiss came from me and a few others, but I couldn't turn to see who.
"The girl is…young, but not a child. The world rarely sees such a responsible, unique, well-rounded person, especially at her age. She has dealt with grave secrecy just as the wolves have, and she was raised amongst the dire importance of secrecy."
"Do you see any danger from her to the supernatural world?"
All the nervous and stressed emotions caught up with me, and my ears bulged from my head and my whiskers tickled the skin on my cheeks. I felt the eyes of everyone but the speakers, and I felt my arms go furry. This "half-phase" wasn't painful, but it was sure as hell embarrassing.
Jasper's power washed over me, leaving a shimmery, light scent in the air. My whiskers returned and my arms regained their smoothness, but my ears still poked out a bit.
Eleazar and Aro did not notice my internal struggle.
"I see no danger," Eleazar replied. "I only see opportunity to learn of our possibilities as a race, and of course, the possibility for another immortal to watch as history unfolds."
Aro nodded, satisfied but clearly disappointed. He turned to Randall.
"Dear nomad, I do not believe we have spoken much. I hope you are planning to visit us in Volterra soon?"
Randall's jaw shifted, but he answered, "I'll pencil it in."
"Delightful!" He laughed. "Now, do you agree with dear Eleazar?"
"Yes." His head tilted ever so slightly, as if he were thinking or trying to get his point across. "She knows there are rules, and she follows them. She has self-control almost parallel to Bella's when she too was a newborn. Leo knows how to control herself in all situations. She is brave. She does not hesitate to obey. She poses no threat of exposure."
'She does not hesitate to obey'? Okay, I wouldn't exactly put it that way…
"None at all?" Aro asked as if sad. Why the hell is he sad? "Once again, the rules are re-written for the Olympic coven. As our possibilities grow with each new edition of their family, so must our tolerance for their…different ideas. True, Leo is one-of-a-kind, a wonderment that walks. After seeing her mind, she would truly be a shame to destroy." I flinched at the word choice. "So much to learn…"
Aro turned slowly, addressing whoever he faced.
"The danger still exists with every newborn, though small. Though this newborn has not grown, her heart beats. This means that she is still…alive. Changing. No matter how long it takes, she will change."
He paused, as if he suddenly realized something.
"Leo is the merge between two supernatural worlds, perhaps the embodiment of 'the best of both worlds' phrase. We do not know how bloodlust will affect this young one, how she will handle the expectations or the joys of immortality; immortality including eternal true love, the very…" he smirked, "adult feelings, the pain… We understand she is trustworthy. Do we put our world in those adolescent, young, inexperienced hands?
"Gather witnesses and guard alike. We must make our decision."
The sides came forward, closing around Aro and the black devoured him again. I could see flashes of pale, chalky skin holding hands.
Aro's claim that I wouldn't experience eternal true love stung. It triggered deeply buried memories and dreams of my E and me. I fell into Jasper's and Alice's embrace as a silent tear fell down my cheek. I hoped Edward wouldn't be paying attention to my thoughts.
The deep ache began burning again in my chest, but this time it moved into my stomach as well. This time, it was so…deep. It was as if the boards I have had to build over the well of loneliness had caved. I've felt this pain since E died, and it was exploding. I pulled my arm across my stomach, and it helped a little. Slowly, I knew the pain would subside.
I looked to the two beside me. "I love you both," I whispered. "You've given me so much joy in my few short days of this life. I love you so much…" I swallowed. "If they choose to force me into joining them, I will decline. If then they threaten or attack us, please," I shook my head, closing my eyes, "let me go with them. I would happily go with them any day before I could imagine losing any of you." I glanced over my shoulder to look at Sam. "Any of you. Promise me that."
Alice was frozen, stunned. "I—I promise."
I felt Jasper nod into my neck.
I let them go, smiling. I turned to Sam. "Same goes for you. You promise?" My voice on the last word. I stroked his massive face slowly. His head dipped in sadness, his ears turning back. Then his head bobbed up and down; a nod.
Everyone around us was finishing his or her goodbyes. I blew kisses or mouthed "Thanks" and "I love you" at anyone who glanced my way.
"Chelsea and Jane are trying, but they know it will do no good." Edward was focusing on the black clump. "Alec is waiting, along with…him. The group in general is thinking of doing…something, but they're still deciding what."
"I can take care of myself," Bella said to us. "Edward and Emmett, you should take Dimitri, and maybe Felix." They agreed with a nod.
"Randall and I would love to take the Twins."
"No, Mary." Kate kind of cracked her knuckles. "Mary, you take Alec, Randall, you take Felix. I want Jane. She needs a taste of her own medicine."
Tanya nodded slowly. "Caius is my target. No one can call that boy a son. Clearly Caius needs a lesson on morals."
Rosalie led a discussion on who should "get" who, when Aro strode through the parted sea of blacks. We all returned to our formation. I squeezed Alice and Jasper's hands, bracing myself. I wasn't ready to die. I was still too young. (Being with the Volturi might as well be death.)
"Before we vote," Aro said, "I want to again offer any of you a position in our guard." Aro looked sharply to Bella, Edward, Alice, Jasper, Eleazar, Kate, and Renesmee and finally settled on me, having been rejected by the former. "Especially you, young one. Your addition would greatly impact our ranks for the better, and you would have your pick at any of them. I would love to call you a jewel in my small collection."
I almost burst into a fit of laughter, but I forced it down, putting all my restraint into a smile. "Apologies, Aro." I emphasized my hold on Jasper's hand. I flashed Alice a quick smile, and then settled the hand that was holding hers on Sam's head. "But I have found my place in this world."
He nodded, clearly disappointed. "Let us vote, then."
Caius and Marcus stepped up to flank Aro and vote.
"Kill the feline mutant," Caius spat. That stung a little… Dickhead... "We have no idea how she will react to our world, and we cannot take such great risks. Destroy it, along with anyone who dares protect the thing." Your 'thing' should be destroyed! "Lancaster has proven himself; he does not have any questionable qualities. He will be spared."
A few un-ladylike things hung on the tip of my tongue, and I rather wished to crumple his papery ass. Jasper kept me too calm, though.
"The girl and boy both should live. They show no immediate danger. Let us leave the young ones to their lives." Marcus seemed to sigh in boredom.
"My vote decides their fates, then," Aro said to himself. He paused for reflection.
If I were mortal, my heart would have sped up. No matter what these old farts were saying, I definitely didn't have a heartbeat. I think I would have noticed that by now.
Jasper predicted my reaction, but let me have my emotions. He was letting me feel everything in my last moments.
Interrupting my thoughts, I heard a low, slow thud, and a shuffle. It came from about a hundred yards east of me. I tried not to pay attention, telling myself that it was just an unlucky animal, but I kept hearing it anyway. There was a scurry, than a rustle of leaves and branches, the snapping of twigs… It was too many noises too soon. It had to be a person. God, I hoped a human hadn't wandered off…
I looked to Edward. His eyes, looking east, squinted in concentration, then widened in joy. A dangerous smile pulled at his lips.
"Fantastic!" he hissed.
What was making him so...happy?
"Pardon me, Aro," the mind reader asked.
"Yes, friend?"
"Let me clarify: The issue of trust set aside, Leo's well-being is the concern? Whether or not she could become a menace, not being able to handle the maturity of this world?"
"Yes, young one. No child can be expected to endure the pain, confusing feelings, bloodlust, and immortal true love. Not without going insane. As I said before…"
"I am sure she can handle the first three things, but I now have proof of the fourth. I will prove to you the extent and potency of the love Leo feels."
Where was he going with this?
"If she can prove one of the four you mentioned will that provide sufficient evidence for your favorable vote, Aro?"
"I suppose, Edward. You know that it must be proof to clear all reasonable doubt."
"I have that kind of evidence." Edward looked behind him, at Jasper, nodding with a smile at me. He understood the signal, holding my upper arm as if to restrain me. We both knew I could break his hold if I tried.
Edward turned to the eastern woods.
"Young vampire shape-shifter," Um, Edward? I'm right here. "My name is Edward Cullen. I can hear your thoughts, but the many other vampires gathered here cannot. They cannot even begin to imagine who you are." Had Edward gone completely nuts? "My family, the nine of us, has been taking care of your Lee for the past five days, since we found her in the midst of her Transformation."
I refused to think of what my intuition told me. No, it couldn't be. I wouldn't let myself think that.
"She has grown fond of our family, and we consider her one of us. My family does not wish to harm you or your Lee. I understand that you have proof to show who the real culprit is in this immense gathering of supernatural beings, and I would like you to present it. Would you please join us, E?"
Oh my God!
E!
My E! MY E! MY E!
He's alive?! How—? When--? WHAT?!
I knew he wasn't dead! I knew it, I knew it!
My E is ALIVE!
I pulled against Jasper's grasp, looking around frantically to see his face, just one more time…
I stopped when I heard the footsteps, eighty-seven yards away, that were E's. They weren't like his human ones. They weren't like the Cullens'. They were beautifully flawed like those of Renesmee, even me. The crackle of paper was light, but unmistakable. I heard air flowing in and out of half-alive lungs. Just the sound made my palms go clammy.
Just when I thought those sounds were enough, E walked into the clearing.
I would have been happy to stare at him for my eternal life. His face was even more beautiful to me now, if that were even possible.
His sandy brown hair had black undertones and new, shimmery brown highlights. It was windblown now, with leaves and debris amidst the long-ish, choppy, and unkempt clusters. His hair was thicker now, and I swear I saw burgundy light flickering across his head.
I stared at his face. His features were slightly more defined, sharper somehow, with higher cheekbones and a stronger brow. His lower lip still pouted slightly, just like when he was human. I'd always loved that.
His eyes were identical to mine. They were already starting to change color. Not of hunger, but from the blood of animals. He'd kept our morals and beliefs. Of course, I thought with a laugh.
His skin was chalky white, glittering in the sun as if he had hidden diamonds under his skin.
This observation took about a second. Our eyes met, and he stood in shock for a second like me. Then, we were running to each other.
I ripped from Jasper's tight grasp without thinking how strong it must have been, Sam taking a step for me a split second too late.
We collided with a loud crack. My arms wrapped as tight as they would go around his waist. His arms did the same. I hid my tear-streaked face in his shoulder.
E, E, E…He was alive…sort of, but still! He smelled amazing, and his black shirt was so soft.
I squeezed my eyes shut. E was here. It will be all right. I could handle anything now.
"I can't believe it! You're…you're…" I sniveled, trying hard to stop crying. I was still in the presence of the Volturi. Who? The only people in this world were E and I. His arms tightened for a bone-crushing moment, and then loosened to pull me away. He held my hips, looking into my eyes as desperately as I did his.
"Lee," he murmured. He stroked my face with the back of his hand. His skin was not as hot as Renesmee's, but not cool like a vampire's, either. He was right smack in the middle…with me. I couldn't believe how much I'd missed his touch. "Didn't I tell you once that we were destined to do everything together?" He bit his lip, chuckling as he held back the tears. "Why should immortality be any different?"
I had to chuckle too. I pulled him to me, and we sighed.
Suddenly, I felt whole again. There was no broken, jagged hole. Not healed, but it was as if there had never been a wound in the first place. E was in my arms, and we had eternity together. How could my life go wrong with my love by my side?
Someone cleared his or her throat quite loudly, bringing me my answer. E pulled away, but I wanted to yank his lips to mine and never let go. He seemed to understand, because he encircled my waist with one arm and kissed my cheek for a long moment. I tried to turn my head, but he was already facing those nearby. I put both my arms around his waist and leaned on his shoulder.
Reluctantly, we walked to the front of the Cullen formation. Those nearby touched E's shoulder in greeting, which he returned with a nod and a smile. E saw the wolves and cocked an eyebrow, but nodded in greeting when he passed one.
When we reached the tip of the diamond, next to Carlisle, Emmet and Edward. Emmett gave E a light punch to his shoulder, throwing me off balance for a split second. I laughed darkly inside. An off-balance vampire.
Filled with relief, joy and fear, I faced the self-proclaimed leaders of the vampire world. So, they ruled half of me…? I had to remember Irina, and how quickly she died. They would just a easily and happily kill me or save me. Would they kill E too? A wave of horror pulsed through me. Had I given E a death sentence as well.
No. I didn't care. My fate was E's fate. I would be wherever he would be from now on, and death would be something we would experience together. It wasn't cruel to assume. It was the basic knowledge we've both had since that day when he took me out of the river when we were ten. We were two halves; and now, the halves joined. My E and I were whole again. It was a beautiful feeling right smack in the middle of hell.