Chapter 25

Changing

BPOV

"Do what?" Edward asked, walking up to where Zoey and I were talking. I looked up at him, startled.

"Um, Edward, could you give us a moment?" I asked him. He nodded and went over to talk to Stark. "Zoey, what would happen if I joined the Dark Daughters?" I realized I knew nothing about where they were located or if I would be isolated from my family or the requirements for joining.

"Well, you would have to go through the Change. And don't worry; it's much less painful than the Change from human to vampire." She added when she saw the look on my face. "Our base is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, away from the world really. But when this is all over with, I have high hopes that the Dark Daughters could return to how we once were. Where we could thrive and live throughout the world and expand. Oh and how I wish to re-open at least one school." Zoey trailed off, deep in her dreams. "Anyways, so you would only have to come to Tulsa for a little while to help make plans and such. But Edward could come to. I do think he would be a good addition to the Sons of Erebus. I was meaning to speak with him. But I already think Stark is," she glanced at the two guys who were talking animatedly.

"Yeah, I think so," I said, staring at them. "What you are saying is great! Of course I would join," I answered after considering it for a moment.

"Wonderful. If you could give me a second to speak with Edward and Stark," I nodded and she drifted over to the guys. I heard a squeak and I turned to see Alice practically beaming.

"YEAH!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me.

"What?" I asked, confused.

Alice looked up at me with bright shining honey eyes, "We're going to be Dark Daughters!" My mouth flew open once her words registered in my head.

"Oh my! Zoey asked you too?!" Alice nodded eagerly.

"Well, not yet. But she will in a moment." Alice said, glancing back at Zoey who was walking our way with Edward trailing.

"Alice, I was just about to send for you. But I figure you already know what I'm going to ask you?" Zoey inquired with a wide smile.

Alice was bouncing up and down with joy. "Yes!"

"Good, that answers that. So, let me start the circle and we will start the Change!" She nodded once and skipped off to her friends.

"This is so exciting," Alice said. But her words were lost on me. My head was reeling from all the information it had received today. Edward joined her conversation, leaving me to get lost in my thoughts.

A couple of hours ago, I had thought the Dark Daughters were extinct. Now they were all (besides the traitors) in my backyard. And they wanted me to join! But that meant things were going to have to change.

If we survived the battle, which had barely been put back into the back of my mind during all the commotion, Edward, Alice and I were going to have to move to Tulsa. That meant leaving Forks and our family. That is if they wanted to stay, which I doubted. So, we would have to move to bright and sunny Tulsa, Oklahoma where we would have to spend our days inside to deter suspicion. But that wasn't the only change we were going to go through.

From what I learned so far, we would be marked during our Change. That mark would resemble our affinity. Like Shaunee who had the affinity for fire had an orange mark that resembled flames shooting out of her sapphire moon. And Erin, her twin for all intensive purposes, had light blue markings that looked like waves cascading around her face and she had the affinity for water. I was a little nervous to see what Nyx would bless me with. Nyx that was another thing. I had never really believed in any God or Goddess or Higher Power. I just went with the flow of living an eternity. And that, too, would change. I would no longer have no purpose, although Edward did brighten my future… I just didn't feel like I was important to the future of the world, which wasn't doing too good. How would eternity be if the world would end? I could only die if I was ripped apart and the pieces burned to ashes. What if there was another major ice age and all living creatures (my diet) died? I would be left to scavenge for a dead carcass and starve, but never able to die.

That future was a little too dark for me to even imagine.

So, by joining the Dark Daughters, we would be helping restore natural order to the world. That is what I remember reading the most about during my studying at Volterra. The Dark Daughters had fought against whatever stood in the way of the natural balance of life. Since they went into hiding, the world had gone downhill from there. I could be a part of restoring the balance of the world and the life on it, which would result into saving humanity and my own kind.

I started to feel a little overwhelmed just thinking about it.

But the other changes were also good. I would be joining a group that fitted together as family. I loved my family and being able to add more to the list of ones I love is amazing. Zoey was already like a sister to me and I had only talked to her a few times just tonight! Nyx knew what she was doing when she chose Zoey. She is a true leader and has a good heart. I am honored just to be chosen by Nyx, but I am even more honored to be able to work with Zoey. And her friends were pretty neat too.

Nyx, back to her. Now that I knew I would have something, no someone, to believe in and that they believed in me enough to choose me to serve them is pretty awesome. Sorry my vocabulary is a little jumbled with all the thoughts running through it. I was going to be a Dark Daughter, was the most common thought.

Edward and Alice were with me in this, the two closest people to my heart. Emmett was close to me, but Alice just got me. She was always on my level and knew what was best for me. Alice is my sister, biologically or not, she was always there for me.

Edward is Edward; no one can take his place. He was my everything wrapped up into one gorgeous guy with a pretty bronze bow on top.

"We're ready," Zoey said, pulling me from my thoughts. "Are you?" She added when she took in our nervous expressions with a smirk.

"Yeah," I breathed and the other two nodded eagerly.

Zoey smiled widely and said, "Let's do this then!"

"Okay, I need you to lie down in the circle with your heads pointing to my spirit candle." Zoey instructed as we moved into the circle. We did as she said. Where I was lying, Stevie Rae was right in front of me. She gave me a wink and a bright smile from the darkness of her hood. In return, I gave a shaky smile.

Zoey clapped her hands, "Good. Jack, start the music," the guy that was talking to Damien nodded and followed his Priestess' directions. A soft melody flowed over the circle and I felt the need to jump up and dance. But Zoey already was. She moved around the circle, a stick in her hand that I recalled was a smudging stick that was used in Cherokee practices to cleanse the atmosphere and the soul. Zoey's movements were graceful and were never hesitant. She seemed not to think of what she was doing, she just let the music move her. When the music quieted, Zoey was standing near Damien who was holding a white candle.

"Air, you are the element that surrounds us every moment of every day. You are now going to surround these Changelings' with the spirit of Nyx. Air, I call you to our circle!" Zoey spoke with such authority that I was instantly captivated by her voice and heard nothing but hers. I vaguely noticed we had an audience, but all thoughts were on what was happening in the circle. Zoey lit the candle and a gust of wind surrounded Zoey and Damien. She then moved clockwise to where Shaunee stood who was holding a red candle.

Zoey continued, "Fire, you are the element that heats this world and allows for life. You are now going to heat these Changelings' with love of Nyx and let the live through her will. Fire, I call you to our circle!" Zoey didn't even raise her stick because the wick blazed into the air as Zoey finished her call. Shaunee smiled wickedly. The heat from the large flame reached me from across the circle. Next, Zoey moved to Erin who held a blue candle.

"Water," she began, "you are the element that allows for new life to begin in new places. These Changelings' are going to need your help to begin their new life with Nyx. Water, I call you to our circle!" The wick flickered with the flame as Zoey lit it. A sudden breeze with the strong scents of the sea wafted over the circle. I heard waves crashing in the distance. And then I saw a small puddle of water surround Erin and Zoey before dissolving into the ground as Zoey stepped away and onto Stevie Rae, a green candle in her hands.

"Earth, you are the element that brings shelter. The Changelings' need you to shelter them with Nyx's will. Earth, I call you to our circle!" When the candle was lit, birds' chirping filled the air. The grass around the two grew and flowers sprouted around my backyard.

Zoey then moved to the center of the circle, where she picked up the purple candle. "Spirit, you are the element that fills us. Fill these Changelings' with the love of Nyx. Spirit, I call you to our circle!" When Zoey lit that candle, my spirit leaped. And by Edward and Alice's reactions, theirs did too. I also heard several gasps from the vampires who were watching on the back porch and every window available to view the spectacle that was happening.

"Nyx," Zoey began, moving around the circle as she did so, looking towards the sky all the while and never once faltering in her step. "You have always there been for me and told me which way to go. When I met Alice the first time, something stirred in my gut. It was my intuition and instincts speaking at once. It was a sign that you chose Alice Brandon" -Alice gave a short gasp at Zoey's knowledge of her name that not many knew- "to serve your will and become a Dark Daughter. Alice is here today. She is here in this circle to become one of your children. Nyx, mark her as your child." There was a noise like a zap! And Alice gave a squeal of shock. I leaned my head back to see that she was writhing on the ground. Then Alice stopped abruptly.

"Alice, rise as a new child of Nyx!" Zoey made a gesture to stand. Alice stood slowly, stretching a bit. From where I lay, she looked different. There was something that was softer about her appearance; almost human. She didn't have the same sharp, angular structures of a predator that she was. Alice just looked like herself. Her eyes were different too. Instead of bright, honey eyes, glacier blue orbs peered cautiously around like she had new vision. Then I noticed the mark that was on her face with a jolt.

A sapphire blue crescent moon was in the center of her forehead like the others. From the sides of the moon, pastel pink clouds flowed out and around her eyes and down her cheek bones. Little filled in pink stars were sprayed in a beautiful pattern throughout the clouds. It fit Alice perfectly.

There had been murmurs of astonishment when Alice stood and the audience had taken in her marks. They all hushed when Zoey gave them a sharp look.

"Alice, just stand there for a bit, okay?" Zoey whispered quietly to Alice who nodded.

Zoey then moved toward Edward, purple candle still in hand. "Nyx," she repeated, "I didn't speak much with Edward when we first met because I was so captivated by his mate, Bella. But she is next. It is Edward's time. Something stirred in me when my eyes did rest on him the first time. I realized it was you who chose again. I was surprised that you had chose two, now three, to join us. But I trusted you and had Stark speak with him. He agreed and now he lies under your night Nyx. He lies under your moon. He wants to join our family. Nyx, mark him as family!" There was another zap! noise and this time I was watching. There was a quick flash of light that came from the sky that looked like lightening. Edward, a little more prepared than Alice had been, just gave a slight jump when it hit his forehead. He then started to convulse in slight tremors. As soon as it had come, it ended.

"Edward, rise as a new child of Nyx!" Zoey repeated her previous gesture. Edward, just as Alice had, rose stiffly and stretched like a lion waking from a catnap.

His features were softer, like when he was a human. I remembered what he had looked like as one, and Edward almost had the same softness he had had then. That was when Edward's face came into view.

Just as Alice, his eyes had changed. Instead of a murky reddish brown, they were the familiar emerald green that I had missed so much. He flashed me a wide smile. I then noticed his mark.

He had a blue crescent moon in the center of his forehead where the lightening had shot. Shooting out the moon was a dark green, almost the color of his eyes, was sharp lines. They traveled from his forehead, down his temples, and across his cheek bones. Between those lines were perpendicular lines that were like shade-ins. It was beautiful. And Edward looked remarkable with them.

Zoey whispered the same to him and he gave a slight nod. The audience had smartly chosen to stay silent when they saw his mark, but I knew they were anxious to get a closer look. Zoey then moved to me. I took a deep, relaxing breath.

"Nyx," Zoey began just like with the other two, but her tone was different. It was softer and not so much of a High Priestess ring to it. "I met Bella tonight. But there was just something about her. I can already tell she is going to do some many great things. More and better than she has already done," her words made my un-beating heart swell with love. "Bella is something else. She has so much potential. Nyx, when I felt the calling stir in me, I wasn't too surprised. I would have asked you why you didn't choose her if you hadn't. But you did.

"And it wasn't a normal calling. No, this one was different. Apart from my own intuition ringing like cow bells, yours was singing like beautiful mockingbirds. That was the sign that told me you had a special plan for Bella. Whatever that plan, I am behind you one hundred ten percent, as I am always, Nyx. I give you my word Bella will be welcomed into the Dark Daughters with open arms and will be protected. She is going to help us rise again Nyx, I know it, and I can feel it in me stirring. So Nyx now is the time to mark her as your own." Zoey raised her voice a little, but it still held the gentleness she had spoke with before. Her words were circling in my head round and round when I felt a hot flash shock in the center of my forehead, but I didn't even flinch. Zoey's words held me through the electricity that was coursing throughout my body at a rapid speed. I sighed when it went away.

I waited for Zoey to tell me to rise, but she didn't. I looked up to see her gaping at me. With a shake of her head to clear her thoughts, Zoey said, "Rise Bella as a new child of Nyx!" but it was half hearted.

I felt a little stiff as I stood gingerly. With a slight stretch, I felt normal. I didn't feel like a human. All of my reflexes were still intact. And my senses were in perfect shape. My vision was a little different though. I could see little wisps surround everything in my line of sight. It was odd, but I decided to put it aside and wait to ask Zoey later. I looked around the small circle to see everyone gaping at me. I felt a little awkward with the stares, so I rubbed the back of my neck and dug a toe into the ground.

"Uh," Zoey cleared her throat, gaining everyone's full attention. I looked at her with thanks and she returned it with a knowing smile. "Thank you Nyx for all you have done today." Zoey held her candle up to the sky once more. "Spirit, thank you for all you have done today as well. You may part," she blew the candle out. Zoey moved around the circle counter-clockwise, blowing out all the candles and releasing the elements.

"Merry part and merry meet again. May Nyx bless you!" Zoey concluded with a shocked smile.

That was when I was swarmed by people. "Guys, guys, back off. She may not need to breathe, but personal space is vital." Zoey pushed everyone back. I gave her another thankful smile and she just nodded, but her gaze went everywhere but my face.

"Z, you want me to help?" an Okie twang called out in the crowd.

"Stevie Rae, you are a saint." Zoey said exasperated. "Help her to a room with a mirror and a door that locked please," Zoey instructed. Stevie Rae nodded and grabbed my wrist. She pulled me through the throngs of familiar faces that wanted to stare at my face and ask me questions and comment.

I had no idea what they were all raving about. Edward and Alice got pretty remarkable marks too. But everyone's attention was centered on me. Why?

"Hold on a second, and you will see why." Stevie Rae answered my thoughts. Or did I say that out loud? "Yes, you did." Stevie Rae giggled, pulling me up the stairs and I directed her to my room. She shoved me in there, closing the door behind her and locking it. "Before you look in a mirror, I want to tell you something."

Stevie Rae brought her hood back and smiled warmly at me. "When I Changed, Zoey told me that it was rare that the Goddess blessed ya with more than one color on your marks. I was confused as to why she was telling me this. Then she handed me a mirror. I don't know if ya noticed, but my flowers are red." I looked closer, and sure enough, along the green vines were red roses.

"Zoey said that two colors meant that Nyx has something special planned for ya. I felt thrilled that the Goddess had chosen me, a little ole country gal from the farm, to do something special. Well, Z was right, as always. You will notice in time, her instincts are always right; ya have to listen to them. I didn't become a Dark Daughter till 'bout fifty years ago. Not very long, I know. But I had been a vampire for a century before that. I came across Zoey and we became best friends fast. I told her I had an ability that I could feel one with the earth and make it do my will, but it took a lot of strength. She told me that I had been chosen by Nyx. So I joined them and my affinity improved tenfold. I can now command the earth element and it not drain me. Anyways, she told me they needed a new hideout. The Volturi were tracking them and they couldn't find a good enough place. So, I brought them to Tulsa, Oklahoma. We didn't stay in Tulsa city limits, but on the outskirts. I created a large cavern in the ground and had several tunnels leading off it. We were able to have running water thanks to Erin and electricity thanks to Jack, Damien's mate, who has the affinity for electricity obviously. He's our official Techboy." Stevie Rae giggled.

"What I'm trying to say is Z put her full trust in me. I brought them to safety. If it hadn't been for my quick thinking, the Volturi would of sure roped them like cattle. It wouldn't have been a pretty sight B," Stevie Rae concluded in her Okie twang. I then noticed she had shortened my name to B. Ah that was sweet. I gave her a big smile. Which she returned full force.

"Now, go on and look at your mark. I have never seen anything like it. Neither has Z. Hey, don't get too mad at her for freezing up like that. She just wasn't expecting it. None of us was," Stevie Rae shook her head then shooed me to my vanity. I took a deep breath of un-needed air and turned around to face my reflection.

What I saw would forever change my life.

A/N: Ah, Haley, why did you have to stop there? Why are you so cruel? Why did you leave that cliffy that huge?!

I'm sorry guys. I'm tired, and I thought that was an excellent place to stop. But no worries; I might start the next chapter tomorrow. My other two are on pause till I get it out. I'm anxious for it.

So real quick: Congrats to BloodSilverThorns for guessing Birthday Sex by Jerimih. Hm, I thought it was quite obvious. And that song is soo big right now.

This chapter lyric excerpt (p.s. on Stephanie Meyer's The Host playlist):

At the end of the world,

Or the last thing I see.

You are never coming home, never coming home.

Could I? Should I?

And all the things that you never ever told me.

And all the smiles that will ever haunt me.