As Gabriel watched the bus pull away he turned to the group, "Thorne, you and Kate go ahead and sift to 50 miles west of the meeting place. Everyone else start at 50 miles out from the direction you are due to come in from. This needs to be done quickly but quietly also, we will meet the Denali's in Reno in 3 hours."
As Gabriel's group was doing recon, the bus was pulling up to the mansion. "What is this place?" Emmett asked. "It is one of the places the Council holds meetings. It is built into the mountain. The front that is showing holds the Council's chambers, inside the mountain there are wings for each Clan. The Guardians have a suite in the front part and you will be staying with us. Be careful where you explore most of the Clans do not like outsiders in their wing." Isabelle explained. "However, we should be able to pick up a lot of information from the people in the common areas."
As the bus stopped Isabelle stood up and looking out the window said, "This is not good. Carlisle remain on the bus until I signal you to come out. Ladies we have a welcoming party. Let's go greet them, weapons visible." With those words the daggers and swords the Cullen's had no idea they were wearing became visible. Isabelle moved to the bus door followed by the Guardians to greet the Council Elders waiting for them. "Aro, Gregory, Thomas it is good to see you as well as the other council members. I see everyone has decided to attend this meeting."
"Yes, they have. Are you surprised by that Isabelle?" Aro asked. "Enough of this bring the Cullen's to the holding cells." Gregory interrupted. Gregory as the head of the Lycan Clan was one of the Council Elders and he expected his orders to be followed. "No" Isabelle stated, "We were asked to investigate the Cullen's and they are under our care. They will stay with us until the accusations are resolved, one way or the other."
"You dare to contradict me?" Gregory snarled stepping closer to her. "I suggest you get your anger in check." Isabelle growled back as the Guardians stepped closer to her. "I do not answer to you and you need to remember that. We are involved in this at the request of the vampires. Now move aside so we can pass." As she went to walk past him he grabbed her arm attracting the attention of everyone. "You need to remember your place as a guest here Keeper." As the Guardians hands moved to the hilt of their swords Isabelle placed her hand on top his and removed it saying, "And you need to remember exactly who you are dealing with Gregory." Isabelle signaled the Cullen's to get off the bus and they entered the mansion surrounded by Guardians going directly to the suite.
Upon entering the suite Isabelle looked at the Guardians, "Mary do you sense anything?"
"There is not one here at the mansion but judging by the feelings I am getting I think there are 2 close by." Mary responded. "OK then let me know if they start moving closer. Jillian go ahead and shift then just hang out around the different wings and see what you can pick up. Catherine see if you can find out anything from the Lycans, we really need to know if it is Jean Luc's or Nikolas's sect in on this. Heidi and Ruth see if you can get anything from the Druids, expect them to be on edge so pry carefully. Elisabeth and Iris will escort Carlisle and the others to Aro and find out if anyone associated with the Romanians is here." After giving her orders she looked at everyone as they filed out to hopefully collect information.
Isabelle pulled out her laptop and accessed the encrypted e-mail program. She needed updates on how everything else was going and the only safe way to do that here was with the e-mail program the Guardians had designed. Siobhan and the nomads had checked in and the girls in South America were currently on their way home and the vampires were going back to Ireland. Michael & Grim's group had no problem with the wolves in Siberia and had moved over to help the Gypsies in Romania. The wolves always complained they wanted to be the same as the lycans but in reality they couldn't hold their own against them, especially in a fight. Leif and Digby had no problem with the Druids in London because most of them were not there. They took care of the ones that were and now were on a plane to Las Vegas. There was nothing from Ingram & Keldan and she was hoping Carlisle would come back with something from the Volturi.
Gabriel's cell phone beeped just as he and Alice entered Reno on their way to meet up with the others. He read Isabelle's message and turned Alice, "Everything is going as planned so far. I hope the others had better luck than we did." "So do I," Alice said as her mind drifted back to a conversation she and Gabriel had.
"I need to thank you for being as patient as you have with Edward. Jasper has talked to me about what he feels coming off you and Isabelle. He has never felt anything like it and sometimes he said it was almost like feeling one person instead of two."
"Alice, it is hard to explain a normal berserker bond but because Isabelle is also of the bloodline it magnifies things 100 times. There are times, when the bond is fully open, that we are one person and that deepens our bond even more. I understand Edward's predicament. He thought he was leaving her to have a normal human life and then when he finds her again, this is what he finds. But the fact is she has everything he wished for her except for being human. There is a reason people say be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. To be honest I don't see how he could have ever left her. I know what his excuses are and that is just what they are - excuses. He never understood her properly, if he had he would have trusted her. Had he trusted her he never would have tried making decisions for her and forced her to live with the consequences of his actions. Even now he is trying to make her do things his way. She has repeatedly asked him to wait until this is resolved but he keeps trying to force the issue of what he can be to her instead of doing as she has requested."
"I know and we have tried talking to him about this but he won't listen. You need to understand that Edward is ..."
"I do understand Edward, trust me Alice. Let me ask you the only question that should matter. Do you think she loves me and is happy with me and the life we have built?"
"She is obviously very much in love with you and looks as if she enjoys the life you all have very much."
"Then let me ask you this. Could Edward have led this life with her? I think your coven, or at least Edward, is operating with the assumption that we live this life because of me, because I am the Overseer. That is not the case, she was destined to be the Keeper and her mate whoever that may have been was to be the Overseer. We live this life and fight these battles because of who she is not me. Could Edward have done this with her? Could your family have lived this life to be with her? Everything was explained when we found each other and I made an informed choice to do this with her, she is worth it, she has always been worth it. If it had been Edward who had to make the choice, would he have chosen to do this with her? I honestly don't think he would have stayed with her this long. I do not think he could have handled the fighting and killing of creatures that we have done. Think of the times we have lived through Alice, they are still some of the most violent times in human history. They were also very violent times in the supernatural world. She takes her job and protecting the humans very seriously and is not going to give it up anytime soon. Find the answers to those questions Alice, then help Edward to move past her. He needs to let her go."
"We are here and so are the others." Gabriel said to Alice pulling her out of the memory.
Jasper introduced the Denali's to the Hamilton's before they got down to business. "What did you find to the north, Soren?" Gabriel asked his son. "We came across the wolves. It is the Russians, they are the ones working with the druids. Nikolas must be at the meeting but I recognized his second in command and the pack is definitely Russian. There appear to be 10-15 lycans and 50-60 wolves. I couldn't find any trace of the French Canadians so I don't think they know anything about the plot. Edward was able to get more from their minds. Right, Edward?"
"Yes, I was." Edward answered. "They plan to attack after Emmett's memories are recalled. They think in the confusion of that and the Guardians being accused they can take control of the meeting. At least one Brude will be there to take control of things. They have no problems killing the Council but would prefer that they accept the Brude rule, that way there won't be chaos in the Clans. The exception is the Lycans, Nikolas plans on killing those above him in the hierarchy, so he can lead them. It is not clear what they plan on doing with the Guardians. In one moment it seems as if they will try to force them to work for the Brudes and in the next they are eager to kill them. What they have planned for Isabelle if she is captured...."
At that Gabriel's eyes flashed ice blue and he appeared to grow right before them as he bellowed "What! They will die before they touch her. Those vile creatures think to use her that way - NEVER." Thorne and Kate had pulled the others back and stood in front of them in a protective stance. Haldor's eye went blue and he stepped up beside his father to hold him back saying to Edward, "Whatever you are thinking change it. I can't calm him down if you are thinking about what they want to do to my mother. He is deep listening to you change your thoughts to something you have seen of them together recently." With that Haldor started speaking to his father in Old Gaelic and judging by the smiles on all of the Hamilton's faces it had to do with revenge for the wolves' thoughts on hurting Isabelle. The Cullen's and Denali's watched in fascination as Gabriel & Haldor's eyes went back to a more natural color and their size also returned to normal. Gabriel turned to Thorne and asked, "Do you have the sword or does your mother?" Thorne responded, "I have it on me now." "Good. I think we will need it soon." Looking Kate in the eye Gabriel said, "You need to be very careful. If they figure out what you really are you will be taken. You would be a prize beyond what even Isabelle is, understand?" "Yes, I understand the risks." Kate answered as everyone else looked on in confusion.
"Let's move on" Gabriel stated harshly, "Thorne did you and Kate encounter anything in the west." "Yes, we ran into the vampires. There are only 50-75, it will not be hard to take care of them. I am actually surprised we found that many here. Stephen is here but Vladimir is not, we need to find out if he was in Romania or at the meeting." Turning his attention to Kate, Gabriel inquired, "Have you felt anything of the Brudes?" "I felt something as we were running, but once we reached our start point in the west I couldn't feel them. I am guessing it is just one or two and they are probably in the east. That explains why the feeling went away and then got stronger the closer we got to the mansion. I do not think they are at the mansion, the feeling was already fading by the time we ran past its location."
"OK. That leaves Haldor & Jasper, I assume you came across the druids?" Gabriel asked. "Yes." Haldor answered. "They are camped in the east, it is the Druids and the hybrids. I assume there is at least one Brude but I didn't see one. There are 40-50 Druids and about 100 hybrids. Also, they have formed a ring and I picked up human scents. I believe they will try to bring forth more Brudes to help their cause."
"They have larger numbers than we expected them to." Gabriel said talking more to himself than the group. "Kate will escort Jasper, Alice and Edward to the meeting. They will have to be there to face the Council and judgment. It would raise suspicions if they weren't. We will need to all go to one group at a time and destroy them. I have been receiving texts from Isabelle and while the other Executioners are on the way here they will not arrive in time to help us with this. Hopefully they will be here in time to help at the meeting."
"First, we all move to take care of the vampires. Including the Denali's it will 9 against 50-75, but we will have the element of surprise and with 3 berserkers and a fae it is very doable. Remember go directly for the head, we can rip them apart after they have been decapitated. From there we go to the lycans & wolves, the Denali's will have to be careful a bite could kill you. Once again go for the immediate kill, remove their heads. If there is time before they start moving we will go for the Druids but we may have to wait for them to move on the mansion. We have to get the Brudes and I do not expect them to show themselves until the meeting. Any questions?" Everyone shook their heads no.
Gabriel continued, "Kate, be sure you tell Isabelle everything when you arrive. She especially needs to know the numbers of everything out here and the order we will be attacking them in." Kate nodded and picked up her pack. She took out a bag of salt, a thermos and a chalice, "Everyone but Edward, Alice and Jasper form a tight circle." She walked around the circle 3 times pouring the salt saying, "Within in this circle are the ones who fight for light. Their path is treacherous, as dark as the night. With increased speed, strength and sight enhance their abilities. As I will so mote it be." As she finished the wind started to pick up and she reached for the chalice pouring the blood from the thermos in it. She reached across the salt handing it Gabriel saying, "Each of you need to drink from it. This blood is a gift of the pure and true. Given freely this blood is the gift of life. From bite and claw and magic it will keep you safe. Fight with purpose and a true heart and nothing you do will you rue. Know that you now walk with the Guardians and possess all they can do. Blessed are these few who stand for the world. Go with God. Be safe."
Everyone looked at Kate wondering what had just happened as the wind died down. "Did you just do what I think you did?" Gabriel asked. "It was Isabelle's idea. You now possess the strengths of all the Guardians except Isabelle. Her blood kept messing up the mix. You should now be able to live through lycan bites, resist druid magic and anything else they can throw at you. You can still be ripped apart and killed but it will be much harder to do. We have given you the strongest protection spell we can. Use it wisely. Good Luck." With that Kate left to escort the Cullen's to the mansion.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters.
Please read & review!!!