Another chapter! I know that some people object to introducing new characters into a story apart from Meyer's canon characters. However, there is a huge vampire world out there that is unexplored. If a war is indeed brewing, they are going to want to pick a side or stay out of the way. Enjoy!
I sat on the gleaming white couch, tapping my foot impatiently on the floor as words swirled around me and my mind sifted through options. The velvet black night wrapped itself around the house, only causing the interior to glow more brightly and its inhabitants to look otherworldly. We had gotten home less than an hour ago and yet the whole family was already in an uproar.
Esme wrung her hands at the door, her straining, nervous eyes darting between Carlisle's pacing form, Edward's marble stance just behind me, and Rosalie's irate expression as she screamed at Edward. Emmett stood slightly behind Rose, his eyes narrowed as he attempted to calm his mate, while Jacob stood slightly away, his angry expression also fixed on Edward. They couldn't understand why we had invited these strangers into our midst when it constituted danger for the community and Renesmee. Alice and Jasper stood at the window. It was clear Jasper was trying to concentrate on lowering the high emotions in the room with closed eyes, while Alice's frustration was written all over her face as she repeatedly mumbled "Why can't I see it? Why can't I see them?"
"Enough Rosalie!" Carlisle said firmly, interrupting her tirade. "Edward and Bella are dealing with this the best they can. They do not need you to criticize their parenting or responsibility regarding their child."
"But Carlisle," Rosalie hissed "we don't know anything about these nomads besides what Edward has told us. All we know is what they said about the rising Volturi threat and the building of an army. How do we even know they are telling the truth?"
"Are you questioning my ability to read their intentions? Are you implying that I cannot protect or know what is best for my own daughter?" Edward hissed back, his furious amber eyes burning into Rosalie. She made a quick move toward Edward but was restrained by Emmett who locked his arms around her in what appeared to be both an embrace and a restraint.
"No one is questioning you, Edward" Carlisle said soothingly. "We just need to figure out the best course of action as regards these strangers. Alice, how long do we have?"
He turned to Alice as she stared out the windows. "They will be here by noon today" she replied, her voice strained and frustrated. "But I still don't see the Volturi deciding to build an army right now, like they said. I just can't see!" She threw her hands up.
As soon as we called after meeting with the nomads, she looked into the futures of all the Volturi guard and sensed a building of forces centered around one form that was a blank in Alice's eye. I could tell it shook Alice that she did not see this move coming nor could tell the exact form a future attack might take.
"Alice" Esme said quietly. "No one is blaming you for not seeing it. We do not rely on your gift to be omniscient and you should not expect it to be."
No response came as Alice kept staring out the window as though expecting her vision to come from the dark of the forest. Not seeing what she was looking for, she spun and stalked out of the room with Jasper close behind.
"Regardless, we need to be prepared" Carlisle broke through the silence. "Though they seem friendly, we will insist on a certain demeanor during their stay. They present a new opportunity for alliances and will be welcomed if their intent is indeed good."
"I won't let them be close to here, Carlisle" Jacob growled back. "It isn't just dangerous for Nessie. What about the people in Forks? Charlie? Are you going to allow them to hunt in this area?" Jacob appealed to me. While we meeting with Davide and Asita, Jacob had felt Renesmee's fear of the Volturi. While he was thrilled the trip was cut short, he quickly became apprehensive about the idea of more 'blood-suckers' coming into the region, especially ones we knew so little about.
"No, Jacob" I replied, breaking my silence for the first time that evening. "We've told them that they are not allowed to hunt in our territory, and they will respect that." A sense of authority had taken hold of me. During the course of the conversation I realized that I felt a power building in me, a self-assurance that helped me see all the options and determine the best one.
"Tomorrow during the day you will take Rensemee into town or to La Push. Give her space, though, to let her think about this herself. We will meet them as planned."
I saw Edward glance at me with surprise on his face as Jacob's expression lightened. I knew that I wouldn't be challenged though. I spoke knowing my words were the correct decision with a new confidence to take control of the situation.
My tone of finality ended the conversation. Rosalie glared once more at Edward before flipping her hair, spinning around and running out the door, Emmett hot on her heels. Jacob nodded slightly, his face still tense with fear before he made to go up the stairs to where Renesmee slept.
"No, Jacob" I said firmly. "Go talk to Sam about the situation and let him know that we will be having visitors. Let her sleep" I begged softly.
Though he glared at me, I stared back at him, not willing to change my position. Finally he spun around and loped out the door before phasing.
Those left in the room looked at me with surprise as I walked over to the window, taking Alice's place looking out. After a pause, Edward and Carlisle threw themselves into a rapid discussion of strategic moves. Jasper slipped in from the other room to join the discussion as Esme walked to the kitchen and started talking quietly to Alice.
The rest of the night passed quickly this way. In the mean time my mind spun with confusion over this new authority while I thought over the different options Edward, Carlisle and Jasper suggested. Why did I openly question Jake like that? It confused and upset me, putting a frown on my face as I watched the velvet black lighten to coal and then heather gray as the night flew by.
At some point Edward came to stand next to me, making me feel more secure and in control, though the same self-doubt whirled in my mind.
As the dawn arrived, Jacob returned and waited around pacing the room until Renesmee woke. She came downstairs after showering and, after we explained what was happened, readily agreed to go in town rather than relive the memories that arose from the meeting with the strangers. Alice walked lightly in to the room.
"Almost here!" She trilled. She seemed in a much happier mood, whether due to Jasper's influences or from her ability to see the near future quite clearly. She was sure the meeting would go fine.
"I'd give it an 85% chance that they will be allies at the end of the meeting" she smiled. "Here they come!"
Following Edward and my scents, Davide and Asita made their entrance through the woods to our house very slowly.
"Davide has sensed the power of our family. They are proceeding slowly out of caution." Edward said quietly, not wanting us to fear their hesitance. Edward, Carlisle and I went out to meet them.
"Welcome again Davide and Asita" I said loudly out into the woods where I knew them to be. My knowledge of their ways and voice of authority came out readily as I stepped in front of Edward and Carlisle.
"Thank you for your invitation, dear Bella" Davide replied, emerging from the woods smiling at us.
"We are curious as to the options presented to us and never turn down an offer of friendship, if it is sincere" I said smoothly. "Please let me introduce my father-in-law, Carlisle Cullen."
We quickly skipped through formalities as I invited them in and introduced them to the rest of the family. They told their story and I then described the options presented to us when suddenly I caught a quick glance pass between the mates.
"What? How could that be? It doesn't seem connected!" Edward's voice burst out in response to an unspoken statement. I looked at him in confusion as Asita nodded.
"I'm sorry," Edward said to the pair before turning to look at me with amazement and a touch of pride. "I am astonished though."
"Will someone please explain?" I demanded, frustrated at the interruption of our discussion.
"Please explain," Davide said. "I feel as if you can do it better than I anyway!"
"It seems that in the short time that we were with these two before, and the time we have spent with them today, Asita tested to see if he could influence and expand the power of those in the room. He believes that your gift has the ability to develop into some sort of natural leadership, almost as if the protection of your shield gave you the natural authority in the group" He smiled at me in wonder. "They think that your actions in speaking for the group have illustrated the development of this gift."
"That's not possible! I am not a leader at all! I'm just concerned as to how this pertains to my child!" I retorted, scoffing at the idea that 'natural leadership' could even be a gift. My mind turned over the thought even as a protested. Was such a thing possible? I knew that Siobhan seemed to possess natural leadership abilities in her coven, so it could exist. But how could I be a leader? I'd always blended into the background in both my human and the start of my vampire life.
"It is a natural development" Asita's deep bass voice explained. "You are bound to become a leader wherever you are. I just helped speed up the process." He smiled at me.
"You see, my theory is that all gifts have an offensive and defensive component" he continued on quickly when I and others showed signs of interrupting. "In all nature there are opposites. Light and dark, sun and moon, predator and prey. In our kind, I have found that even if one aspect of the gift is very slight, there is always the potential for a gift to be both offensive and defensive. Edward's, for example is both" he inclined his head slightly at my husband. "It seems that the counterpart to your shield is an aspect of leadership. Your shield protects those around you by you sharing your gift with others, bringing them under your power. But by protecting those around you, you have an influence on others, an authority that is superior in many ways to their own. This also presents a great advantage to you, one of the reasons we would so like to be on your 'side' so to speak when you fight the Volturi. In a fight, leadership is of key importance and you show the strongest signs of that leadership."
I stood speechless for a moment. As his words sunk in I was hit not only of the meaning of the words, but also of their truth. It felt right to me that all things have their opposites. Though I had never felt so before, it now made sense to me that I should lead, that I should determine what was right. I had no idea from where this emotion came, but it struck me that I wanted to protect those around me in the best way I could. If that meant sacrificing myself or creating common consensus, that it what it must be. I steeled myself then nodded slowly once, feeling at my core that my life was about to change.