Hey, sorry about the wait. I'm so glad to hear that at least this story is being read by a few.
Any hoot, I went to see the Twilight Movie and it gets a seven out of ten. In my opinion some very crucial scenes were cut, but I understand why. The movie would be too long anyway. I have a question though…A really big question. Did they cut out Jasper's Power?
Seriously, when Bella asked Edward about the others having powers, he mentioned Alice, but said nothing about Jasper. And then the scene between Jasper, Alice, and Bella in Phoenix when they use his power was cut. So um…..sorta upset by that. Jasper's my favorite character and this has gotten me a little up in arms. All I have to say is they better not have because next to Alice (after Edward of course) Jasper is the closest to Bella out of the Cullen family. (til Rose and Emmett in the third)
Had my spill…I'm better now. Just my thinking process I guess, but like I said the movie was good. Even the actor choices (I was having a very hard time in the beginning accepting who they choose as Edward and Jacob) grew on my by the end of the movie. Of course I'm a team Jacob, so they better buff him up like he's supposed to be when he changes in the next movies….or I'm going to blow something up. : P
Oh and if you're into RP and want to know two RP sites that my friend started for either Twilight, Nightlife, or the one everybody's on which is an angels or demons site let me know and I'll give you the url.
I'm Jasper and Niko on the sites. For the angels and demons I'm Kai, leader of the demon race.
Anyway it's there if you want it….just let me know in the review or e-mail me…(I'll get to it faster in review)
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or Nightlife.
Chapter Two
Jasper had been watching the scene slightly amused. He could tell from the others that they were all tense and ready to snap at one another. He focused his attention mainly on Emmett. The male had never been one to have a lot of patience and at the moment he was close to his wits end when it came to these characters. Alice was perfectly fine and so were Esme and the others (though he thought he'd have to jump between Esme and Caliban when the male had pulled a gun on this Robin character). When Niko had arrived, he made sure to place himself between Bella and Emmett.
Bella wasn't a young vampire anymore, it had been 17 years since she'd joined them, but that young strength was still there. And he trusted her to restrain him if he needed to be. Caliban and Robin might not be human, but Niko was. And that was a problem.
"Well," Carlisle walked over to stand in the middle of the room in front of Niko and Caliban. The Cullens apartment took up nearly a whole floor and despite being in a less affluent neighborhood it seemed that they lived a comfortable lifestyle. "If you want to have a seat we can talk this over. I'd like to know what happened at the bar."
He eyed Alice who grinned back at her and then at Edward. "What do they know about you? About us?"
Edward didn't answer verbally, but shook his head before taking Carlisle's advice and going to the kitchen to grab another chair to sit on. Their guests wouldn't understand and neither would the other Cullen's, but Carlisle would know.
"You don't know about the creatures that attacked the bar?" Niko's voice was tentative as he raised an eyebrow at the male. He looked slightly surprised and confused. "You're not human and you don't know about the Auphe?" His face turned back into something close to tranquility as he stared at them. "I'm surprised. I was under the impression that everyone who lived as a non-human so to speak knew."
"Well you were ignorant," Robin spoke up speaking to the long blonde haired brother. "Then again that wasn't your choice."
Caliban didn't say a word, but pushed back through Carlisle and Alice to reach the bedroom he'd come out of. Grabbing his shirt he pulled it on before placing his jacket on over it. He had to button it up so that it covered the torn fabric. "Was there a gas station or something when you came down here?"
Jasper could feel the emotions in the room change almost immediately. Caliban became anxious again and was demanding to leave while Niko seemed to be weary. Even Robin seemed slightly solemn, something very different from the very many moods he'd been displaying all night. It was beyond odd to him. Like a thunderstorm. Their emotions compared to the Cullens were almost suffocating. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. He didn't need to breathe, but the familiar movement just seemed to calm him down.
Niko sighed slightly and pulled out a ten dollar bill from his back pocket. "There's one to the right. It isn't far. Do you have your gun?"
"Yeah," Caliban spoke through clenched teeth. "I need some coffee or something."
"We could get you something from the kitchen," Esme stood up always the perfect host. "I'm sure we could find something that you would like."
Caliban looked at her for a second and blinked. He was hesitant before speaking, "You've done enough ma'am. Thank you, but I need some fresh air too. If I don't do something I might collapse here on your floor. I'll be back in thirty minutes." There wasn't a Cullen in the room that didn't notice the change in his attitude or the way his back tensed. They decided to leave it be and watched the male walk out of the door.
"Well," Robin spoke up patting his knees. "Down to business then and this might take a while if you don't know what the Auphe are. You might want to take a seat and get comfortable."
Niko took the man's advice and sat down with a grace that seemed to surprise Bella slightly. She'd never seen a human move so smoothly, not with her new changed eyes. Not with her new perspective of things.
Jasper chose to stand while Emmett leaned back in the recliner. Alice sat down beside Robin along with Carlisle while Esme pulled up a chair from the kitchen beside her husband. Rosalie like Jasper stood against a wall.
"Alright what's the best way to do this? Do you want to just get it over with?" Robin asked Niko. Edward looked towards the blonde human and heard several things at once. All jumbled up. He couldn't make heads or tails of it.
"That depends," Niko crossed his legs and looked very professional. "What kind of deal have you made?"
"They want answers about what happened at the bar. Apparently they've lived a very very sheltered life," Robin shrugged, "and I want to know what they are. So we answer their questions they answer ours and we all go home happy."
"Not going to happen," Rosalie stood straight and took her back off the wall. "You're going to tell us what we want to know, but you're not going to get a damn thing from us."
"Rosalie," Carlisle spoke up from his spot. He turned his head to stare at her, "They don't have to tell us anything they don't want to." The woman huffed and turned her head, but Niko could tell that she was just waiting for an excuse to blow up again, so he decided to take the bargaining approach.
"I'll tell you what I know," he stared at Carlisle, "and we'll just as you yes or no questions. You don't have to tell us anything, but let us guess."
"What the hell do you mean?" Robin stared at Niko with a snort. "I've been waiting all night to find out what they are; beautiful creatures should not have been hidden from my eyes."
"Yes well," Niko gave him a cool smile, "That is a shame, but they seem inclined to keep it a secret and knowing you there wasn't really a deal made." At that Robin mumbled, but didn't protest. Niko was right on that point, technically their hosts had never agreed to anything. "And I have my debt to repay to them for saving Caliban. So Robin, why don't explain what the Auphe are?"
The male in question sighed. "Fine, whatever happened to listening to your better elders?" The young looking male shook his head. "Oh and Niko, Edward here can read your mind." The statement was matter of fact without any hidden innuendos. Niko however, raised an eyebrow before nodding. Edward gave up trying to tell the man that he was wrong. It wouldn't have done him any good anyway.
"The Auphe are elves. Well, the true versions of them, not the pretty skinned fairy like creatures that humans would have you believe them to be. They used to be the top of the food chain, killing, eating, and getting whatever the hell they wanted out of life. Top dog if you'd say." Robin sighed. "Still would have been had it not been for the humans."
"Humans?" Alice tilted her head curiously. "And what exactly is an auphe?"
Robin shook his head. "Auphe plural and singular, call them one for they are truly a legion."
"From what I saw they weren't too bad," Emmett snorted. "It's not like they were impervious to attacks or fast or anything."
"That's because you caught them off guard," Robin spoke clearly like a school teacher staring down a student. "They are creatures without a conscience and they kill without a thought, unless they plan it. Than its specific and they will work to do what they need to do to bring you down. As far as speed they are the fastest creatures alive."
"Really now?" Rosalie chided with a secretive smile. Carlisle and Bella returned it. Esme placed a hand over her mouth.
"They have the ability to tear rifts in time," Niko spoke up this time. "It's in their blood. Formidable, they can transport themselves anywhere. From what I know they don't use weapons, but their own long teeth and even longer claws."
"So if they are the devils incarnate," Bella spoke up this time. "How could humans defeat them?" She seemed confused and Robin gave her a weary grin. "The same way we were dear, they reproduce at the rate of rabbits compared to most non-humans."
Niko nodded, "Simple biology. A shorter life span a shorter pregnancy. Our numbers soon outnumbered them so severely that their numbers are dwindling. Unfortunately they haven't declined enough."
"So in short, watch your backs if you see one of those ugly mothers," Robin grinned and clapped his hands together. "Alright my turn."
"Tip for tap," Edward voiced. "You ask a question and we ask one."
"Fine," Robin waved his hand. He didn't care about that; all he wanted was to know about these people. "Yes or no, let's see. Are you human?"
Alice laughed, "For someone who's been so sure of it that is an odd question to ask."
Robin looked at her, "Ah my dear, but I want my answer." He gave her a wink and ignored the growl that Jasper sent his way. "Answer. Yes or no."
The family looked toward Carlisle who rubbed his hands together in slight thought. It was a short silence before he spoke. "No. We're not."
"Carlisle," Rosalie spoke up standing straight in anger. The rest of the family seemed to tense, but the male looked calmly back at her. "We owe them. We made a deal, besides I don't think that they'll be telling anyone."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Robin winked grinning. "Your turn my friend ask away."
"Alright fine what are you?" Emmett asked folding his arms. His short temper was getting ahead of him again. Jasper reached out and calmed the male down slightly. He looked towards Rosalie and decided it would be a good idea to do the same to her.
"I thought the question's were supposed to be a yes or no?" Robin chided, but answered anyway. Niko knew he would, if there was one thing that Robin was it was a bragger. The male could lose and still brag about it.
"I am a Puck, my real name is Loman Goodfellow at your service." He grinned at the other male. "A higher level creature in our world to be sure, I'm surprised you've never heard about me. I've done several things you know, poker, Alexander the Great (now there was a man with many skills)," he raised his eyebrows, "Henry the eighth and that stupid mess with his wives. Though I have to say I don't blame him for getting rid of number four. That woman could nag all day. And Sigmund Freud could not have come up with his beliefs had I not led him in the right direction. Of course those are just a few of the things that I've accomplished in my life. Can't remember everything, when you've been alive as long as I have."
"And it's all rather fascinating," Niko broke in amused at the Cullens expressions. "I do believe it's our turn," Robin seemed upset, but the blonde continued. "Do you prey on humans?"
The room became deadly quiet.
"No," this time it was Alice who spoke up. The pixie looking girl smiled at him. "No we don't. I thought Pucks where supposed to be half man half beast." She glanced at Robin.
The feeling in the room slightly faded and Robin grumbled. "I tried to make a fashion statement early. I can't help that my taste were well ahead of their time."
"Than what do you feed on?" Niko broke in again before Robin got the chance to ask a pointless question. Edward stood abruptly. "No we do not." His voice was well spaced as he stared down at the other male in the eye. "We don't hunt humans." Niko stared at him for a while before sighing and breaking the eye contact. He was just about through with the whole thing and was going to say so when Caliban came back into the room.
He didn't have a drink as he walked closer and leaned against Niko's chair. "Have you found out what the hell they are yet so we can get home?" The dark haired male sniffed.
Niko gave a low sigh, "I really wish you'd stop cursing and the answer to your question is no. And it is none of our business so long as we don't cross paths again." He stood up and nodded politely at the group. "Thank you for saving my brother and Robin." He stared at Edward in the eyes. "I'm afraid that its time we took our leave."
Robin growled, "I'd rather stay here thank you."
"Sure Loman you can be dinner." Caliban scowled. "Get your ass up and lets go. I'm going to collapse on my feet if I don't get to a bed soon." He moved towards the door.
"You are so persuasive. Oh well," Robin got up. "I don't think you would have told us what you are anyway, and to tell you the truth I think it would be disappointing if I couldn't let my mind wander." He grinned at Edward who glared back.
The three were walking through the door when Jasper pushed off of the wall to take a step towards them. "Wait." Caliban was one of the last near the door. "Why were they attacking you?"
Caliban stopped his hand on the door the other on the door frame. He turned his head lowly to grin at the male in a manner that was more gruesome than any that they'd seen on one of their own kind. "Just lucky I guess."
With that he walked over and closed the door with a loud rumble that ran through the halls.
Left alone the Cullen's stared at each other before Bella's curiosity got the better of her first. "What were they talking about? Elves?" She said it with such confusion in her voice that Emmett laughed.
"You didn't have that hard of a time with us being vampires. In fact you figured it out pretty quickly and accepted it even quicker without much of a fuss."
Bella rolled her eyes. "All right I'll bite, what did you see when you went down to the bar?"
"Monsters." Jasper spoke up with slight amusement. He moved to go near Alice and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It was full of monsters. The male in charge of the establishment had wings. He was an angel of some sort."
"Carlisle," Edward rubbed his hands together and looked at the oldest of them all. "Have you ever heard of anything like that?"
The man in question narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "No." He looked at Edward. "Are you sure?"
The male nodded. "There were several other things there to. They smelled different. Really different."
"That guy you brought in here didn't smell right either," Rosalie spoke. "Neither of them did."
"Caliban is…" Edward shook his head unable to continue that sentence.
"So do you mind telling us why we had to move and just why we had to go to that bar tonight?" Emmett looked at Alice. The girl was small and fragile barely over five feet with a pixie like face. At least that's what she would have been if she were human.
She gave the bigger male a grin. "I'm not sure yet. All I know is I saw you, Jasper, and Edward in the bar. I couldn't see anything or anyone else so I knew that they weren't one of us or human. I wanted to know what they were so I sent you guys in when I knew that you'd come out alive. The only other person I saw during the whole thing was Niko coming here for some reason. And that's it."
"Figures," Emmett snorted.
"Evil elves and angels huh?" Bella shook her head. "I'd have loved to see that." She gave a slight smile and moved towards Edward to hug him around the neck.
"Well I do have a sample I'd like to get to the lab." Carlisle stood and walked over to grab his coat. Esme shook her head and grinned. "Let me guess you got a blood sample off of Caliban?"
"Are you serious?" Emmett stood straighter looking at the male when he nodded.
"Robin too. I took one of Jacob and got it checked out and he was biologically different from humans. I figure this will give us some clues."
Esme stood up and walked over to her husband before kissing him. "See you in a couple of days. What car are you taking?"
"Well the jeep from the shop is what I was thinking about. Taking the back way to our house in Washington might be a good idea. I can speed a little more." He gave her a hug. "Make sure that you all stay feed. There are some packets in the freezer in the safe in my bedroom. Heat them up if you have too."
"I'm going tonight," Emmett spoke walking towards the door. "Are you coming?" He glanced towards Rosalie who nodded and followed him.
"At least she's gone. Emmett can listen to her mouth for the rest of the night." Edward leaned back. Bella walked over to sit in his lap. Alice looked up and whispered something into Jaspers ear. The man took off at a high speed.
"This night has been odd." Esme shook her head sitting back down. Jasper was back in the room handing Alice a laptop and sitting beside her. "Like stories my mother used to tell me while she tucked me into sleep."
"The Auphe are not for bedtime stories," Edward spoke up. "If they were right about one thing it's their mentality. All they were thinking about when they came into the bar was killing and killing Robin and Caliban. It was as if they didn't have another thought in the world."
He seemed upset by this so Bella shifted so she could look him in the eye.
"Edward?"
He glanced up at her. "It was…uncomfortable. I've read the minds of very few of our kind that are that blood thirsty. It was as if that was all they were programmed to do. And then Robin and Niko wouldn't give us me any answers. Their minds were vague the entire time. Caliban I could read like a book, but he wasn't thinking about it."
"Odd name," Esme wondered. "What kind of mother would name her child Caliban?"
Bella shook her head as she remembered Shakespeare. "Whoever she was they didn't seem to fond of her."
"Bella, you're daughter's online. Do you want to say hi?" Alice asked looking at the female with a smile.
"Don't forget to tell her grandma says hi too." Esme winked at Bella who held out her hand expectantly. Alice threw the computer at her and she caught it with ease.
Renesmee: Hey mom. What's up dad?
Bella frowned at Alice's name pixidustR'US, but decided to use it anyway. She didn't want to have to sign out.
pixidustR'US: Hey baby, your father says hi and so does grandma.
Edward looked at her with a chuckle, "So you know what I'm going to say before I do huh?"
Bella nodded. Of course.
Renesmee: Hang on. I'm going to put us on live feed. Can you do that on your end too? Oh and hi grandma.
pixidustR'US: Sure.
Bella got up and fixed the computer so they could have live feed. "Hey mom."
A young female sat in front of the screen looking like both of her parents. Her mother's hair and her father's eyes.
"Hey."
"Who are you talking to?" A voice came in from the young woman's end. A male with short cut black hair appeared behind her with a dark complexion that contrasted with the others pale skin.
"Hey Bells. Edward." The man nodded to both of them with a grin showing off his white teeth.
Bella glanced behind her and saw Edward mumble something incoherent under his breath, but she decided to let it be. "Hello Jacob. How are things at La Push with the pack?"
Jacob waved a hand in front of him. The other came up with a half eaten apple. "Fine, well Seth is having some girl problems, but other than that we're good. Sam left for a little while, but he should be coming home next spring." He took a large bite out of the apple with a grin.
"It's been boring," Renesmee looked at her mother. "Please tell me that something worth anything."
"Hey there is nothing wrong with the reservation." Jacob looked like he was personally hurt by the comment, but the woman just laughed before reaching up to scratch him on the head like a dog. "Of course not, but I want to see New York too."
"There isn't any room to run in New York," Jacob protested.
"You can live without transforming for a week."
Esme got up and walked off to her room. Jasper and Alice both walked out. "Bye guys, we're going to have a walk around." Alice spoke before she left.
"See they're doing something. "
At his daughters pouting Edward chuckled. Especially when he saw Jacobs scowl. "You forget to take out the garbage and this is what you get." He mumbled before finishing the apple in one large bite.
"Well your father made a new friend tonight," Bella spoke. She explained what happened with Edward cutting in a time or two.
"That's odd." Jacob seemed deep in thought, but Renesmee was full of questions. After answering what little they could without satisfying her too much they had to talk her out of coming up to New York to find out herself.
"Hey," Jacob touched her shoulder to get her attention. "Tell them about that psychic chick that you ran into today."
"Oh," Renesmee nodded. "You guys would have a hard time believing this, but I ran into a girl at the store today, you know the one near the reservation, and there was this young woman. She had brown curls and deep brown eyes, but I swear mom she looked older than her days. And she and I were talking in the line to check out."
That seemed to be all that Renesmee could say as her voice dropped. Jacob didn't seem perturbed. He picked up right where she left off.
"She told her to count to twenty before she crossed the highway. It was a good thing that she did because this eighteen wheeler was coming through the other way at such a speed it was ridicules, but the exact second she said twenty the car went by. I swear it was freaky."
"Says the man that turns into a dog," Renesmee muttered. Jacob frowned at that before growling in a non threatening manner. "Wolf there's a difference."
"Anyway," Renesmee waved him off. "The woman's name was Georgina. I do believe that she could give Alice a run for her money. If I see her again I'm going to ask her a few questions."
"Alright," Bella spoke amused at her daughters antics with Jacob.
There was a howl outside that stopped Jacob right in the middle of his tracks. "It's time to go. I forgot that there was supposed to be pack meet today." He waved at the screen. "Bye Bells. Bye Dad."
He smiled as he watched Edward snort. The male looked as old as his own daughter and her husband. It was a wonder that they were this young.
"Bye guys. I'm going with them. " That came as no surprise. The two went just about everywhere together. They said their good-byes and turned off the computer.
"A psychic huh? Alice a run for her money. I'd like to see," Bella smirked. "So what do you want to do? We have all night and all day tomorrow. And the next day and the next and the next."
"All the time in the world," Edward grinned at her. "I have to hunt though and so do you. First things first."
Bella's eyes gleamed with want. "Dinner and an early morning movie it is then."
The next morning Niko was already up and eating breakfast with a slime woman that looked like she came out of a magazine with deep chocolate and pale blonde streaks down her back. Her body was curvy enough and she had a welcoming face.
She'd come early that morning knowing that Niko was up and questioned about the Auphe attack at the bar worried about Caliban. When Niko told her everything, even about the family, she herself was puzzled.
"They might be vampires," her voice was smooth as she spoke. There was a glass of green tea in her hand. "Although I can't be sure if they really have abilities such as reading minds."
Niko shook his head. "That's what Robin said. He wasn't sure what they are either." He looked up when Caliban finally came into the room. It was nine in the morning.
The black haired Leandros glanced at the woman and yawned. "Morning Promise."
She smiled back at him with the same acknowledgement.
"We have a job tonight." Niko spoke drinking his own herbal juice. He grimaced when Caliban came back with a beer in his hand.
"What is it this time? Catch the tooth fairy? And how much does it pay? We've got rent coming up this month." Caliban spoke popping the top off.
"Niko you do know that I'll help you with the rent if you want me too." Niko shook his head. "No. Cal and I will be fine."
Cal snorted. "Too much damn pride to be the trophy boyfriend. Why can't you think about my needs?"
This time it was Niko who coughed. "Your needs? You're over twenty so I think that you can handle your needs well enough."
Promise just chuckled behind her mug. "The payment is seven-thousand dollars. It's a simple case of paranoia. A nymph wants escorts to help her get to Central Park. She was almost killed a while back by some Laimas and thinks that they're all out to get her."
Caliban stopped and leaned against the counter. "A Laima huh? Isn't that essentially the same thing as a vampire? You know drinks blood and all that mess?"
"Warm," Niko stood up. "Remember late last year when we had that kidnapping case. They tend to bite other areas than the neck with a poison that paralyzes their victim before they begin to feed. And that takes for days."
Caliban rolled his eyes at his brother. There was very little that Niko didn't know about the supernatural world and he wasn't even a part of it. Although he was grateful, that knowledge had kept them both alive for a while now.
"When do we go?"
"Seven tonight so I suggest you get your rest. I'm heading towards the college and will be home at six." Niko stood up in his normal clothing full of hidden weaponry. He paused for a moment as Promise came with him to the door way. "I'd prefer you stay with Goodfellow today, but I doubt you care so just make sure your phone is always on. Ishiah called. You've got today and tomorrow off, but after that he wants you back."
Caliban waved his hand at his brother as he walked out. Nothing about what he said surprised him. Niko would be overly protective now that the auphe were back in town. They hadn't seen one in months and he'd started to think that they were finally leaving him alone.
He should have known better.
Niko had spent the rest of last night talking to him and trying to get him to agree to take a break and go somewhere else for a while, but he'd refused. They'd lived in New York too long. It was the closest thing to home that the two of them had. Robin lived nearby and so did Promise, who'd become Niko's girlfriend two years ago.
They weren't going anywhere. Auphe be damned.
15 pages and five thousand words is where I draw the line. I'm tired as the clock says its ten o'clock.
Anyway, you asked for more Cullen family time and you got it.
So thanks to my two people that reviewed….I guess I'll continue the story. Besides I have a friend who's probably put me in my grave if I didn't.
Niko's still my favorite and if you're worried about the Promise and Cullen deal (those who know) I've figured out a way to work it so it keeps the integrity of both. I will not be changing either of their "special" needs to survive.
-cough-
Review time. Make me happy, give me feedback, and I might update a little faster. (hint, hint)