A/N: Important news about the poll. So I'm guessing the poll will close in about a week or so. The important news is that don't take what it says on FF to be the final result. I have polls going on multiple sites. You'll find out who REALLY one when the character comes into play….which will be in a couple chapters.

Also, my internet hasn't been working lately so I've got like 4 more chapters done.

Do you want a chapter every couple days and then possibly a long wait for the others or do you want one every week and hopefully I'll be able to keep that pattern going?

Let me know!

~~~~May 1998. Bella is 10.~~~

To say that I was a nervous wreck would be the understatement of the year.

Turns out, Leslie had gotten the sense of Aaron in danger and knowing that I was usually with him called up the major family (Aaron's siblings) and told them to get to Starr right away.

They had obeyed without question. They had barley gotten here in time to save not only Aaron but me as well.

They were actually the reason Aaron had broken free of whatever was holding him-he said he might tell me when I was older what had happened.

Which probably meant he never would.

So I was now having a panic attack at the thought of seeing his too perfect family.

It was selfish, but I was glad Emmett wasn't there. I would never have been able to force myself to go over there and Aaron would never force me to go.

Also, I know got to ask about the stupid prophecy or whatever 'the girlfriend'-as I had dubbed her- had spoken about before she bit me.

And then there was the happening with the venom killing me-I think-instead of turning me.

I dressed in a simple loose t-shirt that didn't limit my movement and a pair of jeans with tennis shoes.

I had my short hair pinned back into clips-I had stayed with the short hair instead of growing it back out. I liked it better shorter.

Aaron opened the door before I had completely gotten up the stairs. He rolled his eyes at me.

I knew it was probably ridiculous, but I had dressed this way in case of a fight.

And of course, my weapon was tucked safely away in my skin.

Forgot about that, didn't ya?

Call me crazy, but I was a bit wary of vampires as of late…might possibly have something to do with the recent kidnappings and subsequent beatings.

I took one step into the house when one of the girls screamed.

"STOP!"

It was followed by lots of laughter-from the girl and the others.

I looked up at Aaron who rolled his eyes and lead me into the living room.

I peaked around his back to see Jessica being held to the floor and being tickled.

My eyebrows scrunched as Jessica jerked around in her siblings grasp. "Vampires are ticklish?"

He smiled down at me in amusement. Whether because of my question or because of his sister being tortured I didn't know.

"Yeah. Just not as much as humans and usually only in a couple places versus all over. But some are worse like-"

"AARON! Haha! Make-ahh-thEM! HAha! STOP!"

He laughed and shook his head. "Come on guys, leave her alone."

"Ahh…Aaron! It's fun!" Alexis complained.

"Bella's here."

And just like that, everyone was off of Jessica and over by Aaron.

I pressed myself into his back-as if that would make me disappear.

Aaron was thinking along the same lines as he twisted around and said, "Don't turn invisible again."

I stuck my tongue out at him and Leslie smiled at me.

Aaron shook his head again. "Come on, guys. Let's go to the couch."

They sat down on the couch while Aaron and I took the armchair again with me on his lap.

Jason was sitting on the armrest of the couch cause it couldn't fit all four of them.

I wondered why they didn't bring their mates.

Leslie noticed my look. "Yes, Bella?"

All their eyes were locked onto me with such intensity that I scooted back into Aaron's chest.

He immediately wrapped his arms around me and murmured "easy, Bella," in my ear.

I took a deep breath before I answered Lez. "How come you guys didn't bring your mates?"

Jessica answered me. "Well, we haven't exactly told our mates and respective covens that our brother is raising and helping train the next elemental that happens to be human. We're not sure how they would react, you know? So we just came by ourselves. Except me. I don't have a mate yet."

"Isn't it lonely?"

"Nah. I hop covens depending on which sibling I feel like tolerating."

All her siblings rolled their eyes.

" And which of us will deal with her." Jason added grinning as Jessica glared at him.

"But if you guys are part of this big huge family coven why do you even want to be part of another one?"

"Mainly it's to stay inconspicuous. But also, due to the size of our family, it would be impossible to stay together all the time. So we split up but have family reunions every couple years. Or whenever someone is in danger and stuff like what happened several months ago."

"What do you mean stay inconspicuous?"

"Well, see, the Volturi have the largest coven on the earth. Or so they think. In actuality, the McCarthy family does. But if they knew that, then they would feel threatened and send Demetri-who is their expert tracker-to find us all and destroy us. So we split up so we're not seen as a threat."

"They sound like royal bastards."

They all laughed, even Aaron.

"Oh, they are. But it's because they have the power."

"Or so they think." Alexis spoke up.

We all turned to her. "What?" I asked.

"I'll explain it in a moment. First, we need to introductions. I'm obviously Alexis. My Full name is Alexis Tara McCarthy. I was born in the 1920's and changed in 1939. My mate is Taylor Keith Johnson-McCarthy. Our mates keep our last name to make it easier because of the family ties and such. I also have control over my bloodlust just not as strong as Aaron's. I still have singers while Aaron does not. Singers are human who have especially potent blood to a certain vampire. Me and my mate usually travel around as nomads, except when we're called in for family matters or something. That's all for me. Um, who's next?"

"I'll go next. Obviously my name is Jessica, Full name Jessica Elaine McCarthy, I usually go by Jess. Nothing really special about me. I was born in 1918 and changed with Alexis in 1939. No mate and I just hang around whoever will let me hang around. Um, Lez?"

"Well, you already know me from before you knew what we were. My full name is Leslie Anne McCarthy; usually I go by Lez as you've seen. I was born in 1912 and changed in 1937. My special ability is being able to know when direct family members are in danger. Unfortunately, since you're not a McCarthy I can't feel when you are. I just assume you're with Aaron and hope that catches it. When I say family, I mean either direct descents related by blood-excuse the pun- or related by marriage or mated. I have my own coven, well it's really my mate Jared's coven but still, that I co-lead. Unfortunately, the rest of the coven does not follow our animal diet but they kill the murderers and rapists. It's not good, but it could be a whole lot worse. They take the human monsters off the streets. We don't like it, but to protect our family we deal. Jason?"

"Well, my full name is Jason Allen McCarthy. My special ability is strength though Aaron is still stronger than me."

"Which ticks him off extremely." Aaron put in laughing.

"Yeah…shut up. Anyways I was born in 1910 and changed in 1937 making me 27 when I was turned. I usually can claim to be younger though because I also looked younger. Do I look 27?"

I shook my head. "22 maybe 23."

"Exactly. So yeah that' me. And my coven is basically the same as Lez's."

Aaron spoke up. "Now Alexis what were you going on about? About the volturi thinking they have the power? I mean obviously the elementals are stronger than them but as far as everyone else is concerned they are the most powerful coven. And the elementals can't save all of us."

"Well, first off, if they did try to pick us all of, all Bella would have to say would be 'save the McCarthy's' and it would be done because she's a four-element and they don't want her to experience any pain whether it be physical or emotional. Also, I talked to Aly Water a couple months ago and she said that the volturi still think they're in charge. They bend to the four's will when they demand something but they still function off of their own system. They don't recognize the four's leadership."

They all stood gaping at Alexis, besides me. I just rolled my eyes.

"Have they made any examples?" I asked, trying to keep my voice normal and not have a tone that said 'duh.'

They all looked at me in confusion. "No. Why?"

I rolled my eyes at all of them and let the 'duh' tone come into my voice.

"Well then of course the volturi aren't going to realize their leadership. They still think they have top power and are crueler and meaner than the four. They think that the four are too weak to do anything of that magnitude like making an example, whether it is of the top three or the guard. If they want to be taken seriously then they need to make an example of one of the volturi that challenged them. It's the only way they are going to get respect."

They all blinked at me in surprise.

Jason finally spoke up. "That…would make sense."

I sighed and flopped back against Aaron.

They so didn't get it.

Leslie laughed at my expression. "I wonder who the natural born leader from this group huh?"

I stuck my tongue out at her. "It makes sense. I don't understand why you don't see the logic."

She shrugged. "It's a leader thing."

I shook my head. "Yeah, okay."

Alexis cut into our bantering. "Are we done now? I've got more."

I sat up again to pay attention.

"That was just the first part that I already knew from my talks with Allison. While you all were off in your individual covens and what not, these last couple months Taylor and I have been searching the Internet and libraries all over the world day in and day out. We found some books talking about the prophecy that the vampire that captured Bella was talking about. Some were silly, some had nothing to do with her at all, but some were actually legit."

She went over to her bag and grabbed out a book.

"I actually stole this from one of the libraries. It won't be missed. I checked the records and it's only been checked out once in the last year."

I gave a soft barley-there laugh at that.

She smiled at me before continuing. "Some of the stuff in here we already know. Like how the fourth element will be a human, how the powers will come suddenly, and how a normal vampire will train her. But other things are new. There are a couple passages. I'll read them to you.

The human elemental will be the link that closes the gap between all mythical creatures. Between the Vampire, the werewolves, and the humans. The human elemental will close the gap between the two leading groups allowing them to work together as comrades and make them one.

Here's another one:

The human elemental is called such due to the fact that she will never be vampire or anything else. Venom is like poison to her. It is such to others humans too, but more so to the human element. While other human would turn after three days after being bitten, the human elemental would be truly dead. Never moving.

And here is one about her powers.

The human elemental will be the most powerful air elemental because of what she will be required to do. She has to be on fighting level with those who are vampire and have the air power-making them that much faster. She will be able to fly through air and she will be the leader. She will be the face that is respected and feared and she will be listened too. But before that, she will go through many hardships and much loss. Many battles she will fight before she can get to her place."

Alexis closed the book and I shut my eyes. I didn't want to think about this. What would I lose in exchange for being powerful?

What would I gain?

Did I want that?

Did I even get a choice in the matter or did I just have to deal?

I was dimly aware of Aaron talking. I heard bits and pieces. 'Call Renee…staying over…girls night…."

I stopped listening as he took me up to his room.

I opened my eyes when I felt the pillow and blankets underneath me.

I grabbed his arm as he turned to leave and tugged him down. He complied and held me.

"What does that mean for me?"

He sighed and stroked my hair. "I don't know, Bella. I don't know."

"What do I have to lose for this? I don't even get a choice. And how am I supposed to be the gap between humanity and supernatural if I can't live forever?"

"We're all looking, Bella. We'll figure it out. And I think you should tell your dad some of this supernatural stuff-not all of it obviously-sometime in the next couple years. I think it would help you both. Your mom is too light heartened to handle it."

I nodded as I drifted off with him holding me.

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