Just as planned, Faith started off with animal blood. Not knowing anything else, she slurped it up eagerly. Sometimes I saw her wince at the sourness of it, but since she had never tasted the sweetness of human blood, it didn't seem too bad to her.
Alec even agreed that the animal blood made a world of difference. He said that out of the hundreds of immortal children he has seen in his time, she is in the most control. He said he could remember Elisha faintly, and the little boy she carried with her. From what he could recall, her child wasn't even as tame as Faith.
Faith loved to run. She would run around the castle all day. When she got comfortable with everyone here, her juvenile energy burst forth, and she became an adorable blond ball of hyper-ness.
I have become great friends with everyone on the guard. Tension is still high with Libby and I, but it is concealed usually, and we go along as if we are like sisters. Dugan was accepted warmly by everyone also. Other than Alec. They don't do such a hot job of keeping their hate hidden. Obvious glares are thrown back and forth. "Accidental" pushes are shared when passing each other. Its ridiculous.
Other than my two feisty loves at each others throats, things have been amazing. Today, though, that happy and exquisite mood that has wrapped us all here at the Volturi like a friendly hug, is sure to disappear. Because at this very moment, I can hear Jane and Dustin walking towards the throne room.
Alec and I sit in our thrones, bright smiles on our faces, each of us excited to welcome our sibling home. But each of our eyes are filled with horror at the thought of breaking the news to Jane that we have created an immortal child. Claire, a sweet girl with the power of creating force fields, is watching my precious daughter at the moment. She is like a big sister to her, even though she is older than me. On our que, she will bring her out and introduce her to her aunt and uncle.
Suddenly, the heavy oak doors burst open. And in walk Jane and Dustin, looking just as excited as we are, with Roxy-Anne and Parker, their new bodyguards, at their sides.
"Desi! Alec!" Jane squeals. We all rush forwards, greeting each other with hugs and kisses on the cheek. If I could cry, I would be. I've missed Jane and Dustin so much!
"Hey, short stuff," Dustin says, mussing with my hair, then squeezing me so tight he lifts me off the ground. I hug him back as tightly as I can.
"I'm so glad you're back, Dus," I whispered, not able to get my voice louder because of the immense pressure that is being put on my upper torso. He sets me back down, then gives Alec a friendly, but not too friendly, "bro hug" as they call it.
Jane's hug was no where near as strong as Dustin's, but I knew it would have been if she was capable of it. It was just as fierce and full of love, though.
"Don't ever leave me for so long again, Janie," I said this in a whisper also, but this time because I was trying to contain the sobs that were threatening to break through my lips.
"From now on, everywhere we go, we go together." She said, pulling back to smile at me. Then, as best friends tend to always do, she realized something was wrong by the look in my eyes.
"Whats wrong?" She asked, her scarlet eyes darting around. Wait.. SCARLET?!
"JANE! Your eyes!" I practically screeched. Alec looked over, then gasped. Jane's hand raised up, touching the area right below her eye. I looked up at Dustin, and realized his eyes were red also.
"What the hell?" Was all I could manage to say. Overwhelming anger was consuming me, igniting every cell in my body with a fiery resentment for my own brother and best friend.
"We all fall off the wagon sometimes," Jane whispered, stepping away from me and into the protection of Dustin's muscled and awaiting arms. I did the same, trying to conceal how utterly appalled I am at this by hiding my face in Alec's chest.
They had taken a humans life. That was forbidden on the guard. It was the first rule we had established, since we are planning on converting the whole vampire world to the veggie lifestyle.
"Human blood is against the rules here." Alec said, his voice a bit cold. Though it pained me to admit it, I knew Alec probably wouldn't have minded their slip up too much but he could see how upset I was by it, and that made him mad.
"We were just trying to celebrate!" Dustin argued. I turned around, glaring at them.
"Taking someones life, ripping apart a family, destroying the future of a human being, is what you consider a good way to celebrate?" I asked through clenched teeth.
"Des, we are SO sorry. Really, I can't even describe the guilt that is boiling up inside of me. Please, can we just forget this? I don't want to think about it anymore. It will never happen again, we swear." Jane begged, raising her hand to her forehead as I often did when things became too much to bear.
I sighed. I knew it was wrong and extremely hypocritical of my to be angry at them for doing something they know I disapprove of.
"Well, what was the special occasion?" I asked in the cheeriest tone I could muster up. Jane's eyes lighted up in excitement, as did Dustin's.
"Do you think Alice could fly in sometimes soon?" She asked.
"Wha-" I began, but stopped when she held up her left hand to show off the glittering jewles that rest on a silver band around her itty-bitty ring finger.
"Oh my gosh! Jane! Congratulations!" I squealed, tackling her in a hug. She laughed and thanked me, hugging me back.
"I think I could make a phone call and get Alice out here sometime soon. She is the best wedding planner ever," I said with a laugh.
"Congrats, man," I heard Alec say, mock punching Dustin on the shoulder.
"You treat her right, Dustin, you hear me?" I said, arching an eyebrow.
"Of course I will, Des. I love her." He sounded shocked that I would even consider the idea that he would ever treat her in anything but a gentlemanly fashion. It was a pretty absurb idea, though, since he was always so gentle and sweet with her, as if he was afraid he could break her like glass with just his words.
I smiled at him, then smiled at Alec. He grinned back, but mouthed the words "its time" so descreetly that neither Jane nor Dustin noticed.
I cleared my throat nervously.
"Janie, Dus, we need to talk to you guys about something. You know how we let it slide that you broke a rule? Well, we sort of need a freebie, also," I said with an impish look.
"What are you talking about?" Jane asked, suddenly serious.
"Do you remember Theo?": I asked. They both gave me an odd look.
"Yeah, that old nut from the ball? He was a creep. Immortal children, who could be so stupid as to think they could tame one of those things," Dustin said in disgust. I gulped.
"Me," I couldn't meet their eyes as the simple, two-letter word slipped past and filled the large room. Silence ensued.
"Oh, Des.. You didn't.." Jane whispered, raising a shaking hand to her mouth in horror.
"I'm sorry." I said quietly.
"Claire, bring Faith out now," Alec said in a normal tone. Claire heard though, and zoomed to our side. Faith's eyes lighted up when she saw Alec and I. She reached for me, her hands clutching at the air as she tried to escape Claire's firm grip.
Jane let out a terrified gasp and Dustin growled deeply as I took Fay into my arms and let her snuggled into the protection of my hair.
"It must be destroyed." Jane said matter-of-factly, moving towards me. Before fear had time to fully register, Faith looked up Jane with her big, amber eyes full of confusion and fear. Jane stopped.
"She's adorable," She murmured.
"I know," I agreed, tightening my arms around the little form. Jane looked away, seemingly ashamed of her own weakness. She couldn't harm such a stunning little girl.
"Why did you do this?" Dustin whispered.
"I just wanted to be a mother."
Suddenly, Faith flipped around at lightening speed in my arms. Jane flew backwards, landing ten feet away, panting in fear.
Faith reached for her nimbly. "Aunt Jane?" She said meekly, sounding as if she was on the verge of crying. Jane took a small step closer. Then another step, and another. Soon, she was standing next to us again. She reached out her arms toward the child.
"Jane, don't do it," Dustin side, flashing to her side and drawing his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. She shoved him away, and grabbed Fay.
It seemed like the longer Dustin stared at her alabaster little face, the warmer he became to her. After a couple minutes of Jane cooing and crooning at her, he asked if he could hold her. She obliged, and Dustin held her like the daughter hes always wanted.
The Cullens arrived yesterday. Their introduction to Faith was much worse than Jane and Dustin. They had nearly run out the door. But on our command, Devlin, Dugan, Dustin, Roxy-Anne, and Parker and stopped them. We explained things, and they finally became willing to accept it. The real reunion began then.
Nessie and Alice squeezed the life out of me. Bella, Carlisle, Rose, and Esme gave me gentle hugs and kissed my cheeks. Emmet, Jacob, Jazz, and Edward ruffled my hair and gave me hugs. The wolf pack gave me friendly smiles and waves, and a couple, such as Leah and Seth, whom I had become close to, gave me hugs.
I noticed Collin was no where to be seen. As low as possible, I whispered to Jacob, "Where is Collin?"
"He stopped phasing. Moved to Canada and married some nice French girl. Haven't seen or heard from him in months. Hes left his friends behind. He has also left part of himself behind, the wolf part. He thinks he can just ignore the animal instincts and they'll go away, but it isn't that easy. I hope he'll come back to us soon." He said solemnly, his eyes grave. It was very upsetting. I never thought Collin would do that to his pack..
Alice was happy to accept Jane's offer to plan her wedding. They set to work on it immediately. Alec called down our new guard to introduce them to the Cullens. Everyone bonded instantly.
Dustin chatted it up with some of the wolves. Claire talked with Bella about some book they had both enjoyed. Olivia, a new member with the power of telekinesis, talked with Carlisle since they were both born and changed around the same time. Esme was involved in a deep conversation with Chloe and Bryan. Nessie, while clinging to Jacob's side, laughed at the funny and charming Dugan.
Libby flitted to my side just as I was about to go pull Dugan away from Renesmee, my jealousy getting the better of me. She handed me a letter with an unfamiliar address.
"Who is this from?" I asked her in confusion.
"I have no idea. I went to the fridge to get some elk, and when I came back, it was laying on my desk. It had your name on it, so I figured it was yours." She said with a shrug.
"Oh. Well, thank you," I said. She nodded, and walked away as I slid my finger through the sealed envelope. I pulled out a photograph.... A photograph of Faith, resting in my arms... A crisply folded piece of paper was attached to it. Ice cold fear rushed through my veins as I read the words written in dark, sloppy handwriting:
She won't be safe for long. And neither will you.