Disclaimer: I do not own nor pretend to own or have any stock in Twilight. I just like to play with the characters and bend them to my will.
Chapter 3
The next morning Bella was shaken from her reverie by the ringing of her cell phone. She fumbled off of her bed and grabbed the ringing piece of electronics. The caller ID read 'pack-Elders'. Bella mumbled a few dirty words and flipped the phone open.
"Good Morning this is Sire Isabella." She was hoping that it was Billy and she could drop the formality. The Blacks were like family to her, even after her change.
"Good Morning, this is Elder Black." It was Billy. Bella looked at her watch, it only read seven thirty.
"What can I do for you this morning Billy."
"We will be needing the coven tonight at the Meeting."
"Okay. What time?" Bella smiled at the mental picture of her whole coven sitting within the circle of fires as the Tribal Elders had their meeting.
"Nine. Like always. Bella," He paused, as if he was still at a loss for words.
"Yes Billy."
"Can you bring the Cullens. At least a few of them."
"Billy. You want me to bring the leeches to the reservation? Into the heart of the tribal lands?"
"Bella we need to have a discussion that will involve all three groups."
"Yes Billy. I promise to bring at least Carlisle and Esme. Do I need to give them the talk before the meeting?"
"That would be preferred to them insulting some of the Elders."
"I understand. Blessing of the Moon on You Elder Black."
"Blessings of the moon on you Sire Isabella." Billy hung up and Bella stared at her phone for a few minutes. She put the phone down. It was seven o'clock in the morning on a Tuesday. Why in the hell was she fully functional. True she didn't need to sleep. Maybe an hour or two a night. Just to recharge and let her mind rest. The Cullens would be up. There was no denying that.
Bella jumped in the shower and cleaned up. In the mirror she checked her eyes. Slipping a camera out of the bathroom cabinet she clicked a picture of her face in the mirror. A base line for comparing any changes in them based on the prototype drinks. Michael would be doing it to. If it worked for them Serena would try as well. The thought of having Jasper try as well was weighing heavily on her mind. Living in a house with a mind reader that would tell the Cullens her secret was something that she really had to think about.
Once back in her room she opened her closet and pulled out the outfit that had been set aside for today. Black skinny jeans, holsters for both of her knives sewn into the calves on the inside of the pants. A silver tank top and a small gray sweater that accentuated her chest and arms. She pulled on her silver heels and checked herself in the mirror. Walking down the stairs she heard Michael and Serena getting ready for the day. Grabbing a cereal bar and a can of blood laced with caffeine she walked outside and climbed into her blue convertible. Putting in a few hours in her store would soothe her mind. There was a new shipment of books coming in today and she had to decide how to arrange them in the store.
'Its now or never Bella.' Bella thought to herself as she reached for her phone. Punching in the numbers she steadied her voice as the phone rang the hospital.
"Carlisle Cullen please." She asked the girl that answered the phone.
"Doctor Cullen is in surgery at the moment. Is this an emergency."
"No emergency. May I please have his voicemail?"
"Of course darling."
"Thank You." Bella paused while she was transferred to Carlisle's voicemail. "Hello Carlisle, this is Isabella. I received a call from the Tribal Council this morning. I have been asked to bring your family to see the council tonight. Please meet me between eight and nine tonight. Thank you." Bella hung up her phone as she pulled into her parking spot behind the bookstore.
Taking a moment to check her makeup she stepped out of the car and into the back entrance of her store. The alarm beeped twice and she punched in the code while flipping on the lights. Bella looked towards the front of the store to see her assistant, Jennica, struggling to unlock the door while balancing a bag from the bakery and two cups of coffee. She walked quickly through the store and opened the door, Jennica smiled greatfully. Together they opened the store and planned how to merchandise the new books. Bella sipped her coffee but denied the bagel that Jennica had bought. After two hours had passed Bella left Jennica manning the front of the store and wandered in to the back to catch up on some paperwork. She let the delivery guy in through the back door and entered the shipments into the inventory. Around noon her cell phone buzzed. The caller ID read 'Sire Carlisle'.
"Good Afternoon Carlisle."
"I was surprised that you called me this morning."
"Elder Black called me this morning to ask me to relay a message from the Tribal Council to you."
"We've never been brought on to the reservation. Normally we meet on our side of the line."
"I do believe that Sam and Jacob had something to do with this."
"Alright what time?"
"Seven Thirty. There are things that I need to go over with you and everyone else that wants to go before we leave."
"Sounds good Bella. Thank you for calling me."
"Your welcome Carlisle. I'll see you tonight."
"Goodbye." Bella clicked her phone closed. Jennica's face appeared in the crack of the door.
"Hey. Bella you have a visitor."
"Okay. I'll be out in a second." Jennica turned and walked back towards the cafe. Bella entered the main part of the store a few minutes later to see Alice standing at the counter talking to Jennica.
"Hello Alice. What can I do for you?"
"Bella can we talk privately?" She twisted her hands together like she was nervous about something.
"Sure. Jennica you good right?" Bella asked her assistant manager.
"Yeah and since school is letting out in a few minutes the cafe crew will be here soon."
"Okay, give me a shout if you need me." Jennica nodded and went back to putting the cookies in a display case. Bella led Alice back into her office. Once the door was shut she turned to her.
"Okay Alice what's up?"
"Why are you taking us to the reservation?" Alice asked in a paniced voice, she was almost blind when it came to the wolves and anyone within their immediate area.
"That's right." Bella slapped her forehead with her palm. "You would have seen the family disappearing. The Tribal Council is meeting tonight. I was asked to bring Carlisle with me and my coven." Alice's eyes widened.
"Oh."
"Alice its okay. Even if you can't see anything. I promise. I go twice a month to Council Meeting and at least once a week to hang out with the pack. Nothing has ever happened."
"Whats the topic of discussion?" Alice asked trying to wrap her head around the whole being invited to the reservation thing.
"Um... I'm not sure. Billy didn't tell me this morning." Bella gave a small shy smile. One that used to be followed by a blush.
"Okay. So we'll see you at seven thirty then."
"How is the baby doing?"
"She is doing amazing. Jasper remembered what you fed her last night and we drove into the grocery store early this morning and got more milk."
"That's great. Carlisle have any more ideas on what is going on?"
"Nope. Just as confused as he was yesturday."
"How is she doing?"
"She is a happy little baby. Edward says she talks incesently to him."
"Too bad she can't talk to anyone else."
"Yeah I would love to know what she was thinking. Bella are we ever going to be friends again?"
"I hope so Alicia. I've missed you." Alice hugged Bella again, with the squeal that Bella had missed.
"Well I need to run. Apparently fashion has come to Port Angelus and I need to check it out."
"Have fun. See you tonight."
"Yep. Seven thirty. Later." Alice was almost out the door.
No sooner had the door closed than Bella collapsed in her chair, dry sobs wracking her body. It was harder than she thought to sit here and pretend it didn't bother her. To pretned that them leacing wasn't the end of her world. Did they even know, how small she had been, how painful getting out of bed had been, how painful getting out of bed had been. How Jacob had pulled her back together. She wondered if her troubles would have ended if she hadn't been bitten. Everyday she saw reminders of her pain, her depression and their betrayl.
Bella left the bookstore at three pm, after ensuring that Jennica, Eileen and Jeff could handle everything. There were twenty teens milling about the store, sipping lattes and gossiping. Jumping in her convertible she drove through town back to her house. Once she was in the house she went straight to the basement. Daphne had the door to her workroom propped open and music blarring. Bella stood in the door as Daphne drapped a dress on a manequin. The dress was long, ocean blue, satin, had a full skirt and was reminiscent of a by gone era.
"Whats up with the ballgown?"
"Serena informed me that the Volturi would be throwing a ball for All Hallows this year."
"They throw one every year?"
"They do. This year is going to be different. This is a celebration of everything that makes us vampires. Although you will see when the invitaiton arrives." Daphne pinned some pleats into the bodice as she spoke.
"So, whose dress will that be?" Bella was in awe of the dress, it was everything that she could want for a dress for the opening ball of this year's season. Every major vampire coven would be having parties starting with the Volturi Ball and then ending in March with the True Hearts Ball.
"Yours Bella. Check out the drawings on the board." Daphne smiled before concentrating on colors while Bella perused the drawings.
"Why are there ones for the Cullens?"
"They will be going as well." She paused at the look of astonishment on Bella's face. "They are going to know our secrets by then. They will know a lot of them before tonight is over."
"I know. You know that Alice will molest you if she figures out who you are."
"That's why I left through the back when she came in with Rosalie." Daphne put down her pins. "Oh your phone upstairs was ringing when I got home."
"Oh crap. Well upstairs I go." Bella trudged up the stairs and into her office. She poked the buttons on her phone and her messages began to play.
"Message one: Good afternoon Bella, Alice gave me this number to call about our conversation today. When and where would you like to talk? Please call me back?" It was Jasper. "Message two: Isabella Swan! Call me. We need to talk about the testing for V74. I'm at Donovan's lab til six." Bella reached for her handset to call Victor back, he was in panic mode, whether it was good or bad was yet to be seen.
"Isabella, Thank you for calling me back. I just arrived at Donovan's to find him staring at a rack of blood samples. Where did you get them from?"
"Um Donovan should have had my pack from Miami. Why?"
"Because Isabella, they are not mutating fully." Bella's jaw dropped. 'This wasn't possible. Not mutating fully meant that they were being reborn as Edgers. Like me.'
"What do you mean not fully?"
"Bella, I think we can find the DNA strand that creates Edgers and not full vamps."
"That's amazing! Victor, I found a baby."
"A baby what? You work with too many species to just say that."
"A baby vampire. A born baby vampire. She was born an Edger. I'll draw blood and send it to you."
"You know we will have to present this to the Volturi, they will want Edgers that can blend in the Guard."
"I know. I have a feeling that we are going to be star attractions at this years Gala."
"Bella we never get invited." Victor complained.
"Vic, with this discovery I would not put it past the Volturi to send Jane and Alec to hand delvier the invitations."
"Send those samples when you can."
"I will, hey I might be needing to extend my orders. A new vegetarian family has moved into my area and I want them to help me test the Blending and Power Enhancing ones."
"Sure. We just need the profiles of anyone we mail to, for research purposes."
"I know blood samples to you asap. I gotta go."
"Bye Bella."
"Bye Victor." She placed the handset on the cradle before punching in a few more numbers. This phone call would be on speaker phone.
"Hello Isabella."
"Hello Jasper. Would you like to come over at six tonight? So we can get this out of the way before your family comes over for the meeting."
"Sure. Alice and I will be there at six. Bye Bella."
"Bye Jasper." Bella slumped in her chair. Willing herself to focas she began her report on Jasper, Alice, Edward, herself and Michael. She would have to write a second one for the baby. Its a pure test subject. One with no prior experiences, no bad habits, no thoughts on how things were done. Bella was deep into her writing and didn't hear Michael and Serena come home, nor the squeal of Serena seeing the dress that Daphne was desgingin for her. At tent o six Bella closed her eyes and mentally mapped the area around the house. She could feel Alice's mind approaching. Walking down the hall she steeled her nerves and met them at the front door.
"Hi guys come on in." They joined her in the kitchen. "Would you rather talk in the kitchen or in my office?"
"Let's use your office."
"Follow me then." She pushed the door to her office open and then closed it behind them.
"Bella, you have a degree in Bioengineering?"
"Yep. That kinda goes with what I wanted to talk to you about. That drink that you tried yesterday. Did you like it?"
"Yes. It was odd at first. It was good though."
"Did you notive any changes in yourself."
"I noticed his eyes, they had flecks of blue in them."
"I felt a little more in control. Like I could dampen everyone's emotions."
"Yes!" Bella did a small victory dance in her seat before calming down. "Sorry. Got a little overexcited there. I haven't tried that one yet."
"Bella you are getting ahead of yourself."
"Sorry. I work for a company called Blending Inc. We produce items for different sepecies to assist them in blending in to the mortal world."
"The same company that makes the drinks?"
"The very same. The one you tried is supposed to do two things when it hits the general market. It should begin the process of changing your eye color and enhance your abilities." Bella paused. "Jasper, I began working on these because of you. Your family as well but mostly you."
"Why me?"
"I know how hard it was for you to stay in control. I saw it while raising Serena and Michael. I never wanted you to have to suffer like that again. Imagine sitting in the Forks Cafeteria, not worrying about the humans aroudn you. All the while being able to control your gift. No emotional overloads, Alice no unwanted visions. Total control."
"You really think you can do that?"
"Alice I know that I can. The flecks are a clue that I am close."
"Please Bella, don't get my hopes up." Jasper struggled, his own emotions over whelming him. Bella kneeled in front of the chair that he had slumped in to.
"Jasper, please trust me." Her eyes travelled to Alice's face before returning to Jasper's.
"Bella, I've always trusted you. Its you who never should have trusted me."
"Jasper, if its about my birthday i've never laid the blame on you. It wasn't anyone's fault."
"But, Isabellathats why we left I wasn't able to be around you." Bella shushed him with her hand.
"Would it help you to be able to feel my sincerity?" He nodded, Bella gave him a small smile. "Sorry, ahead of time." She dropped her shiled completely, Alice and Jasper both shuddered.
"Bella, thats a lot of emotions."
"Yeah, sorry, i've been holding back my entire coven's emotions. I had to drop all of theirs to lower mine. Everyone is home right now so their really strong."
"Bella its okay. Its actually good to 'feel' you again. I do believe you." Bella smiled appreciatively.
"Thank you Jasper." She pulled him into a hug. "Would you and Alice mind testing a few new products for me?"
"Sure, anything for you sis."
"Sis huh?" Bellas chest caught, her brain racing, not sure if she was ready to be family witht hem. Jasper blinked as a wave of uncertaintiy and pain smashed into him. Bella fumbled for a second before wrapping her shiled tightly around her mind again.
"If you don't mind."
"I'm not sure Jasper. Give me some time." Bella sniffed. "Anyways, could you both fill out these forms for me?" she handed each of them a packet of papers. "I am sorry that I have to ask this of you but I would like a sample of blood and venom from each of you."
"Why?"
"To see if anything changes. DNA markers for different abilities. Normal stuff really."
"How do you plan on doing that? You can't use a needle." Jasper asked. Alice nodded at Bella's unasked question. She gripped Jasper's arm tightly before offering her wrist to their missing family member. Bella leaned forward and kissed Alice's wrist before slicing a small section of vein with her nail. Using a vial from her desk she dripped just enough to fill the vial before running her tongue over the cut sealing it. She seperated the large vial into three smaller ones, labelling one test, one abilites:seer and the third vampire. She repeated the process with Japser and his vials matched Alice's besides the marking after abilities read empath not seer. Bella placed each vial in a seperate case on her desk. When she turned she noticed the faint glimmer to Alice's eyes and Jasper was squirming, slightly, in his chair.
"For the record. Its more erotic on your original bites and if you do it at the same time, quiet the power boost as well."
"Really?" Alice's eyes lit up and sparkled.
"Yeah, but make sure you both really want to do it. It's part of a real old vampire marriage ritual. Legitimizes your realationship to the Elders. If you are going to do it I would suggest doing it before All Hallows." Bella heard a familiar heart beat approaching her house, still mies outside of Forks. "Crap, hold on a second guys."
'Alert. Gianna is coming. She never travels alone. Serena see anything? Michael anything on your end?'
'Its Alec and Jane. They are debating on visiting us or the Cullens first.' Serena added coming back from a purpose driven vision, swaying slightly down stairs.
'They are halfway between Seattle and here.' Michael added feeling them enter his range.
'Thanks, inform that pack Daphne. Its a council meeting tonight and some Elders are still arriving.' Bella smiled and relaxed slightly. It was two of the easier to talk to members of the Guard.
'Will do.' Her coven responded before going about their next round of tasks.
"Alice you must really be distracted with the info I gave you."
"Why?"
"Cause two Volturi guards are on their way here."
"What." Jasper shouted, his face betraying shock and rage.
"Relax, they come bearing the white roses of official messages. No harm just personal delivereis."
"What kind of deliveries?" Jasper asked pulling Alice to his side and resting his chin on her shoulder.
"It's alright. Please alert your family to their imminent arrival. Have everyone meet here now. Please." Bella added, remembering that they weren't members of her coven or her children, she could only ask them, not tell them to do anything.
"This isn't a trap? Right Bella?"
"No Jasper. I really did not think that they would make personal deliveries." Bella led them from her office and into the living room. Alice sent a text to their family and within a few moments the Cullens were approaching the property and Bella's watched beeped. The doorbell rang and Jasper felt his family outside the door. "Come in guys."
"I thought we were meeting later Isabella?" Esme asked with a small smile.
"We were but I figured it would easier for our guests if both covens were in the same place when they arrived."
"What guests?" Rosalie asked.
"Volturi guards." Instant uproar. Bella looked at Jasper whose eyes were going wide. She carefully enveloped him and Alice within the main shield.
'Wow that's better.'
'I agree Jasper.'
'Why is Jasper in the shield? Curiosity not anger by the way.'
'Come to the living room and find out.' Daphne appeared at the top of the basement staris, and Serena and Michael came down from their room.
"What did you do? They just disappeared." Edward growled at her.
"The same thing that I do for my coven, insulate them from being overloaded." Bella snarled. In return.
"Bella, was that you in my head?" Jasper asked.
"Yes, me and Daphne. Its a side benefit of the shield. Those on the inside can communicate telepathically with each other and no one from the outside can hear whats going on. Now if everyone is calm?" After reciving nods from everyone she pulled the shield from Alice and Japser. Alice's eyes automatically glazed over.
"They are almost here." She whispered. The watches of the smaller coven beeped three times. Bella walked towards the door and opeend it to reveal the three Volturi.
"Gianna, Alec, Jabe, we've missed you." Bella greeted them sincerely.
"Good afternoon Lady Isabella. You are aware of why we are here?"
"Yes. The Olympic coven is here as well."
"You make life easier Lady Isabella." Gianna said with a smile.
"Please come this way." She led the three guests into her living room. As they entered the Cullens stiffened, although her coven remained relaxed. "Gianna, Alec and Jane, may I introduce you to the Olympic coven Carlisle and Esme, Rosalie and Emmett, Alice and Jasper and Edward Cullen. Cullens please meet Gianna Aro's human familiar, and Jane and Alec are siblings as well as being members of the guard." There were hand shakes all around. Gianna opened her briefcase and removed two blood red scrolls.
"Lady Isabella, Sire of the Sangue Misto Coven, honored guest of Volterra and Sir Carlisle of the Olympic Coven, dear friend. Your presence is requested at the Bitten Ball on October the thirty first of this year. The entirety of your covens are expected to attend with you. Please accept these invitations." Each scroll was tied with a gold ribbon and a tag written in silver ink.
"Aye, the Sangue Misto Coven accepts." Bella smiled at Gianna and grasped the scroll lightly.
"The Olympic Coven also accepts." Carlisle said formally.
"Thank you both." The trio of Volturi turned to leave.
"Jane I have something for Aro if you would bring it home with you." Bella pulled a lare enevelope from a table drawer and handed it to her.
"Is this?"
"Yes, please be careful with that info. Aro is expecting it to arrive with you."
"Will do. Hows the company?"
"Its good. Read some of the info in the pack on your flight back. See you later."
"Oh, Jane. I've got you covered. I'll bring it with me." Daphne said grinning in delight at the look on Jane's face.
"Daphne you are the best. The very best." Jane smiled and dragged Alec out of the house. After the Volturi had left silence. Everyone was processing what had just happened.
"Since we are already here should we just have the discussion we were going to have in a little bit?" Carlisle requested. Bella settled down in her chair. Serena grabbed enough cans of energy drink from the kitchen, for everyone and returned to the living room. The Swan Coven, Jasper and Alice each took one and drank deeply. Bella paused beofre continuing.
"Tonight is the Elders Council meeting of the Quileute Tribe. We have been asked to attend."
"They don't want us on their land?" Edward said, growling at the meer thought of letting any of the Cullen women near the dangerous, tempremental werewolves.
"Silly Edward. It is you that they do not want on their land. I, we, are allowed on the reservation, unescorted anytime that we want to be there." Isabella shot back, before her brain registered the words that were forming in her mouth.
"Please don't get them all riled up? Embry wanted to ride out to the reservation with us." Serena spoke up smiling at Daphne, who turned and opened the door.
"Hello Love." She wrapped her arms aournd him and kissed him on the cheek before leading him to the group. Subconscisously Rosalie snarled as he approached them, pulling the baby to her chest.
"Rosalie, calm. Embry is allowed in this house. He will not harm the baby." Rosalie settled back into Emmett's arms. "Hello Embry."
"Hey Bells. I miss the good parts yet?"
"Not quite."
"Good. I wanted to watch."
"As I was saying. Embry and Jacob will escort us in and to the location. You must remain at the location until you are escorted back off of the reservation. During this meeting you all must address everyone on the Council by their title and first name. Regardless of who it is. Unless freendom to speak is given you should be silent."
"What type of wording is used in the address?" Carlisle asked.
"Its quite simple. For Sam it is 'Sam, Alpha, Pack Leader', Jacob is 'Jacob, Beta, Pack Leader'. For the other members of the Council it is So and So, Esteemed Elder. You'll get the hang of it." Bella checked her watch, it read seven twenty. She excused herself and went upstairs to change. When she returned she was wearing a white sweater that reached her knees, forest green leggings and brown heeled ankle boots. Dangling from her hand was a midnight blue full face helmet with with a mirrored visor.
"Jacob should be here in a few minutes. Let's get into our cars and wait for him." Serena said, knowing full well what was going to be happening soon. Bella tossed the keys to Serena's SUV to her.
"I'll take my bike, you guys take Embry with you."
"Bella, why don't you ride with us?" Emmett asked, gesturing towards the two other cars in the driveway.
"Because its actually dry enough to ride my baby." Bella pointed deeper into the garage to a midnight blue and silver Hayabusa. She wheeled the bike out of the garage and closed the garage door behind her.
"Bella, you can't ride that its dangerous." Edward yelled. Alice slapped a hand to her forehead and muttered about stupid boys.
"Dangerous huh? Do I look breakable to you? Am I still fragile?" Bella glared at him before turning around and pulling her helmet over her head. They all heard a rumble as Jacob pulled onto the street on a red and black Hayabusa. Trading looks Bella and Jacob both gunned their engines and flew down the driveway and onto the street again. Serena flew out of the driveway after them, leaving Rosalie and Edward scrambling to catch up with them.
AN: I would be most appreciative if someone reliable would volunteer to Beta this project for me. You can leave me a note a review or send me an email through my profile. Thank you.
Sangue Misto - Mixed or Half blooded in Latin.