Chapter 3 - Overreactions
"Mother must we do piano today? I'd much rather go swimming with Ciyan."
I listened to the oddly structured request of my five year old and smiled, "Grandpa Edward is already expecting us. It's only two hours, everyone will still be there when it's over." I promised.
The warm brown eyes that matched my set exactly looked up at me. "Well…When you put it that way. I suppose it's unobjectionable."
I laughed, again not the average five year old. I wrapped my arm around her, her growth spurt already having her at my torso. "Come on he is waiting for us."
When she walked through the door all of her grievances about piano were gone.
"Grandfather!" She smiled running towards my awaiting father already sitting.
"Hello Rosabella," he grinned as she sat next to him.
"Hi Dad," I smiled as I sat on the grey chaise to watch.
He gave me a warm smile and greeting before turning back to Rosabella. "What would you like to start with today?"
"Chopsticks!" she gleamed.
"Nice try Rosabella, but how about something you can't play with your eyes closed and your hand behind your back." I suggested.
"We'll start with where you left off last week." My dad smirked. "La fille avec cheveux de lin."
Rosabella groaned.
"Hey that was one of my favorite compositions when I was a little girl, so don't go groaning." I teasingly cautioned.
"Don't get me wrong mother, his works are quite angelic actually. They just lack the certain, mirth that holds my attention."
I didn't really know what to say, I looked to my father who was suppressing a smirk but still threw me a life line. "Rosa, Debussy now, chopsticks later."
"Alright." She sighed as she started to play. "Half way through the first page she mumbled a barely audible " Should have gone swimming."
I laid back staring at the ceiling listening to my father's instruction as she struggled through the pages that were new to her. She really was quite the prodigy, I really didn't understand her aversion to the more complex compositions. I thought about it for a moment and decided that I could relate in some ways of my own, simpler was better at times.
Then the thought lead me to shopping in Cairo with Mom, and I could relate to my only child even more. Going through the flashy dresses for their anniversary. That wasn't needed either. Then all of a sudden my mother's face and words went through my mind replaying the scene.
"Don't think about this in front of your Dad but…"
I instantly alerted my subconscious to think about something else. I shifted to remembering the last hunting trip instead. I glanced over at my dad and daughter. He appeared completely consumed with Rosabella's piano lesson, but the set of his mouth showed a slight hint of disappointment. Then his moth twitched at the corners trying to suppress a smile.
Nice try Dad! I laughed mentally.
One hint? he negotiated inside my head, a gift Asima helped him discover within himself.
Not one, I vowed looking at the ceiling.
He continued through the lesson and I continued to let my mind drift. I made a mental note to pick up a few things on my next trip to Cairo. I had meant to buy Alice that adorable top I saw in the window. I had completely forgotten because of whatever was watching us. Then I decided that, since I have to go back anyway for the top then I might as well get Jacob that new…
My thoughts were interrupted because the piano had stopped playing. "Rosabella," Dad suggested casually. "Why don't you go swimming with Ciyan and Phillip."
"Thanks Grandfather you're the greatest!" she exclaimed. Then promised, "I'll work extra hard next week."
"Go on." He smiled.
I shook my head. Apparently her thoughts were no where near on the lesson. Rosabella gets her way again, I sighed. The men in her life were powerless when it came to not giving her what she wanted. I would have to talk to Dad about caving so-
It wasn't her thoughts that bothered me. My Dad said not bothering to speak aloud.
I eyed him in confusion, his shoulders were tense. I went to him as soon as the front door clicked shut from Rosabella's quick exit.
"Daddy what's wrong?"
"Someone's been watching you and your mother." It didn't come out as a question. "Why is this my first time hearing about this?"
"Oh." I sighed simply. He growled in his chest and though I knew it wasn't directed to me I felt a rush to continue explaining. "Mom didn't smell or see anything out of the ordinary. I didn't either, so I just chucked it up to me being crazy."
"The threat could have been human." He suggested reaching.
I couldn't help but snort a laugh. What human could pose a physical threat to me, let alone Mom. "A human hurting us was never going to happen."
The sound of my laughter seemed to relax him. "You still should have informed me." He gently chastened.
"I only had the feeling for a moment, and as quickly as it was there it was gone. I didn't feel like it was worth mentioning." I admitted.
He sighed with no response. I reached up and he tilted his head down hearing in my thoughts what I wanted to do. I kissed his forehead and sat back down on the piano bench next to him. "You overreacted Daddy." I sighed.
"It seems." He sighed.
I leaned into him so that our shoulders touched for a brief moment before nudging him.
"Let's play." I suggested taking control of the left side of the grand keys.
"Debussy?" he asked sitting up.
"Euphemia Allen" I smiled.
He rolled his eyes and then laughed. "Chopsticks it is."
"Welcome back." I greeted as they all entered the front room.
"You should have joined us swimming." Alice frowned at the only two fully dried people in the room. Dad and I.
"That's ok. When Esme and Carlisle get back from getting medical supplies with Sami and Rami maybe we can go for a night swim." I suggested.
I got up from the piano bench as soon as I saw my mother. The moment there was enough space between Dad and I she was at his side.
"A night swim, now that's more my taste." My dad smiled pulling my mom closer.
"Where is Jacob with Rosabella?" I asked noticing the few heads that were missing.
Rosalie came down the stairs completely dry wearing a pair of blue jeans and a tank top. "They stopped off to change like Seth and the others."
"Can we forget the night swimming, lets play a game." Emmett suggested completely ignoring the fact that his swim trunks were wet and sitting down on the sofa.
"What are we playing?" Jacob asked walking in with Rosabella behind him.
"Football?" Jasper suggested.
"That is no where near fair, you guys have that quick speed thing we can't keep up in human form." Seth said walking in holding Asima's hand. Ciyan and Phillip weren't with them.
"How about a wrestling match or two?" Emmett suggested coming back downstairs after Rosalie made him go upstairs and change clothes. Most of the men got excited about this. Dad just continued gazing at Mom.
"Wrestling?" Esme gasped coming through the back door. "No fighting." She warned pointing a finger at all of us as she entered the front room.
"Thank you Esme." Asima groaned collapsing on the other sofa.
"We won't hurt each other Esme, it is just a little competitive fun." Jasper smiled.
"What are we talking about?" Jabril entered with Sami and Rami behind them. Jabril's skin was still a bronze color, but the exposure of vampire venom left him a few shades lighter than the twin princes. "Oh wrestling." He smiled still not completely use to his Asima like talents.
"That sounds like a plan to me." Sami grinned, his blue eyes alight.
"We haven't had to change forms in over a decade." Rami seconded a little more excited.
"Let's do it." Seth smiled in agreement.
Asima let out a huge sigh, and Seth grinned sheepishly.
"Oh come on Asima, don't be so uptight." Jake groaned next to me.
"I'm not, we just had the battle of our existence a little over a decade ago. That fight and the time leading up to it held enough wrestling matches to last a millennium." She said not bothering to look up from her magazine.
"Were men Asima, we get restless." Dad adduced.
"We haven't had a single encounter since the Volturi." Emmett groaned.
"We shouldn't have anymore period." Esme backed up Asima.
"Thank you, is a century or two without fighting too much to ask for?" Asima.
"Come on, even you and Nessie got a scrap a few years back." Jacob argued.
Asima's eyes narrowed then she raised and eyebrow accompanied by a sinful smirk, "So did you and Seth." Reminding them of their trip out of the city.
"Asima, it isn't going to hurt anything." Jabril laughed. "It's just each other. It will be fun."
She sighed for a moment, knowing that she couldn't resist the request of her only family. Especially the way his Henna colored eyes were bright with happiness. "Fine, I am in but I want Jasper." She pointed raising her eyebrow at him.
He grinned accepting the challenge with a cocky nod. Jasper was the only one she hadn't bested the closest they came to was a draw.
"Finally." Rami smiled, "give it an hour and we can head out."
"After this, I want at least a century of peace." She groaned.
"Maybe we should aim a little lower Asima." Leah suggested sitting next to her, completely comfortable surrounded by my vampire family.
"No, they have it in them." She replied, "We will have a century of peace, even if I have to kill all of them to do it."
Carlisle laughed at her joking threat, "Well let's hope it doesn't come to that."
Asima started to reply, no doubt with something smart but her eyes spaced out, staring thru Carlisle at absolutely nothing.
"What is it?" Seth asked her immediately knowing what was happening.
It was Alice that answered, "Visitors are coming to Jennah."
"Who?" Sami inquired.
"Maggie and Benjamin." Dad stated his eyes incredulous.
"We haven't see them since the wedding, I wonder what they want." Seth asked cautiously.
"They're still with the Volturi right?" Rosalie asked.
"They were wearing cloaks, so that tends to lead me towards this isn't a purely social visit." Asima sighed.
"Let's go meet them." Alice suggested trying to stare into the future again.
"Who's coming mother?" Rosabella asked curiously staring from behind my husband.
I didn't know how to answer her. "Friend's of your Grandpa Edward."
"Oh." She sighed and processed this in her head some more. "Red eyes or gold?"
"That's my cue, have fun tonight Jabril." Leah said quietly getting up from the couch. Her tolerance for vampires extended as far as my family. She smiled and said a little louder. "Come on Rosa, we can go stop in and see what Ciyan and Phillip are up to. Maybe we can tear them from whatever they're doing long enough to watch movies and eat junk."
Jacob kissed her on the head before she followed Leah out. Her brown eyes were full of confusion but she exited in silence.
"They will be here at sunset, we might as well hit the dunes now." Emmet said heading for the door nonchalantly . He saw it as a way to get some extra wrestling in.
"Let's go."
I was having a hard time focusing on any of my friends and family sparing in front of me. I was too busy thinking about what exactly Maggie and Benjamin wanted. We had just gotten our lives into the perfect spot and I feared whatever they had to bring would upset that some how.
"Worried?" Rami asked sitting down next to me, stirring up sand around him watching
"That obvious?" I asked smiling watching a russet colored wolf going toe to toe with a sandy Seth.
"Yes, yes it is."
" I just don't want things to go bad, our family has grown so much, and everything has been so well."
"We can't stop things from happening, Ness, we just have to make the most of what we have for as long as we have it." Rami smiled.
"I mean seriously, " Sami, the more animated of the twins, started as he plopped down in the sand on his back stirring up dust as he landed. " you'll be fine, well be fine."
"I suppose you're right." Maybe I was over reacting.
"You should be out there fighting with us, not sulking over here by yourself, life's too short." Sami laughed looking at Emmett and Jasper going at it. My family watching from the other side, giving them about a mile of room.
"You guys have lived for centuries, and you're telling me life is too short?" I smiled a the carefree brother.
"Nevertheless life is still short." Rami agreed.
"Come on," Sami said jumping up, standing over me.
"Where are we going?" I asked looking in the direction of my family, their skins glittering in the orange set of the sun.
"You are sparing with us." Sami said grabbing my hand and pulling me up.
"Can't we just go swimming?" I asked not wanting to be pinned over and over. Though I had gotten better than when I originally started fighting, so had my family.
"No no swimming," Sami argued grabbing my arm and pulling me up. "Hey guys! Ness has got next." He called across the dessert.
His hand flashed warm on my arm, just a slight temperature difference and he looked to the west and then to his brother.
"What?" I asked looking at the flustered color of Rami's skin as well.
"Looks like were going to have to put that match on hold I'm afraid." Rami sighed looking at the dark sky.
"They're almost here." Sami stated.
"Carlisle, it's been too long." Maggie smiled as she approached, her red curls and Irish accent holding no hint of worry.
"Hello everyone," Ben greeted, his red eyes still kind.
"Maggie, Benjamin." Carlisle stood to greet them. My family knew Ben and Maggie so they broken off in little groups as they had been before. Some sitting, some standing, all aware, but not wanting to be a hostile grouping. Asima was the most relaxed, laying on her back staring up at the starless sky. Seth sat next to her in wolf form but stared at Maggie and Ben. "It has been to long." He eyed their grey cloaks curiously and continued. "We were just doing a few matches of skill, would you like to accompany us."
"I wish we could, but this is unfortunately an official visit." Maggie sighed looking genuinely disappointed.
"Is something wrong?" Esme asked looking at our family.
Maggie looked at the leopards curiously and then to my family before she answered Esme's question. "To be honest, I am not sure at the moment. Benjamin and I have been traveling for a while, helping to keep everything structured since our… uproar. When we got back to Volterra, Marcus and Vladimir were preparing to send a few members of the guard out to find you."
Sami and Rami growled, and Jabril touched their sides calming them. I was certain this was one of the times he could be linked with them through transformation.
Ben spoke quickly, "We thought it would be, better, if we made the visit ourselves. For one, we don't have the best trackers, so they wouldn't have been able to find you I'm sure. And if they did I believed you all wanted this city as private as possible."
"I believe that was wise." Dad frowned at the possibility.
"What do Marcus and Stefan want with us?" Rosalie asked. Sitting back to back with Emmett facing Maggie.
My dad heard something in their thoughts that made him turn and smirk at Asima. Asima sighed, but didn't look away from the night clouds. I couldn't see her, but I knew her well enough to know that she probably rolled her eyes.
"Asima I know that you don't -" Maggie started but was interrupted.
"I am not a member of the Volturi and can't be summoned whenever you all decide Maggie." Asima sighed sitting up. Seth's head was darting back and forth between Maggie and Asima in violent jerks.
My family looked to Dad confused and he answered, "They don't want us. Marcus has requested Asima."
"What do they want?" Jabril asked slowly.
"I'm not sure." Ben admitted.
"They just want us to bring you back." Maggie admitted.
"I am not a possession Maggie. I can't be brought any where." She corrected.
"We know, We know." Ben corrected automatically. "We're just asking."
She heard something in Ben's thoughts that made her laugh. "Look Ben. I have a few things to finish with my family but I can make my way over there in a day or so."
They looked at each other curiously for a few moments, probably at the word family, but didn't push it assuming that she meant us. "That's fine, we will let Marcus and Stefan know to be expecting you."
"Thank you so much Asima." Maggie sighed. "We need to be in Romania by morning, so we should leave now."
"See you in a few days." Asima dismissed.
There were a few goodbyes before they disappeared.
"Looks like we're going back to Italy." I sighed laying against wolf Jacob, who didn't relax until they were gone at least ten minutes. My family half heartedly went back to their games. Still thinking about the visit from Ben and Maggie no doubt.
Asima scoffed a laugh. "Who said we?"