The Guardian, Pt. 5-Alpha et Omega
Disclaimer: I don't own the Twilight characters. They belong to Stephenie Meyer and Summit Entertainment. I only own Mira. I promise this is the last in the series! Please R&R.
Mira slept well that night; she had felt confident that her plan would work, and it calmed her mind. She awoke early, refreshed and determined to make more progress on her plan. She showered and dressed quickly in her uniform, adding green glitter lotion in the same shade as her school's colors to her shoulders and cheeks. She pulled her hair into a half-ponytail, pulled on her ankle socks, and completed the outfit with her standard-issue cheerleading sneakers with plastic colored squares in the instep. A quick application of green eyeshadow, along with brown mascara and some coral-y lip gloss completed the look. Today, she opted for the faux horn-rimmed glasses she sometimes wore because they made her look and feel smarter. Finally, she curled the very ends of her hair and then brushed them out so they fell in loose, flowing waves. All in all, it wasn't half-bad. She shrugged on a cardigan because it was chilly in the house; the result of a boatload of vampires in close quarters. She slipped the papers she had gathered the night before into her gym bag; she would spend her free period tying up loose ends, and had an important phone call to make. She smiled at her reflection in her mirror, and, pleased with the final outcome, went downstairs to rustle up something to eat. She knew the next day was important; she'd need to hunt tonight without fail. More vampires had arrived overnight, and Jasper pulled her into the living room, which now more or less resembled a Vampire assembly hall, and introduced her to some friends of his.
"Mira, come and meet Charlotte and Peter, and this is Garrett." The nomads looked her up and down, and then, grinning, shook her hand. Peter looked at Jasper, the question obvious in his eyes-THIS was the new girl? Mira smiled at them and then excused herself. She could hear Jasper murmuring something about her and her uniform. A louder voice hushed theirs; Mira smiled to herself, thankful for Alice and the older girl's watchfulness. After she ate, she went back upstairs to pack her books and gym bag. The Romanians trooped out of Carlisle's office, the blonde patriarch following behind. They gaped openly at the girl and her outfit, trying not to stare. Carlisle stopped her.
"Mira, please put a sweatshirt or a blouse on over your uniform top. You're a little inappropriately dressed for company." Mira made a face.
"Sorry, Carlisle. I'll put a sweater on right now." She continued on to her room, where she pulled off her uniform top and put a long-sleeved t-shirt underneath. She put her top back on and smoothed her hair. She put her books into her backpack, tossed some jeans into her gym bag, and grabbed her jacket. She went back into the hall to go downstairs. Carlisle was still standing in the hall, talking to Tanya. He interrupted his conversation to speak to her.
"Thank you, Mira. Much better." Mira smiled, but rolled her eyes when he turned back to his conversation. She continued down the stairs, greeting the various vampires she met on her way down. She spotted Emmett in the downstairs hallway.
"Hey, you ready?"
"Almost. Have you seen Rose?"
Mira shook her head.
"Sorry. Want me to look upstairs?"
"Yeah, if you would. I tried our bedroom, she's not there, and she's not in the garage, either." Mira turned to go back upstairs, and saw Rosalie heading down.
"You guys ready?"
"Yeah. Emmett said he has been looking for you. Where were you?"
"Helping Bella with Nessie."
"Oh. Hey, Rose, can you hunt with me tonight?"
"Sure. Just as long as you don't wear that," she answered, indicating Mira's uniform.
"I promise. Thanks. Emmett?" She yelled loudly. He appeared next to her, at the same time Esme stuck her head around the doorway.
"Please don't yell, Mira. We can all hear you fine." Mira sighed; she was being picked on a lot today.
"Sorry, Mom. Come on, we'll be late." She led the two others out to the garage and into the car.
Their day was uneventful, other than the pep rally that morning to prepare for the game that evening, which none of them would be attending. Mira tried not to feel sad; she knew it was in her best interest. She was also worried; she hadn't seen Frank all morning, and he usually met her outside the Gym before rallies. Fortunately, though, the vampire boy wasn't there either, so Emmett could relax. By lunch time, Mira was antsy with anticipation for the next period. Lunch was boring without Frank there, and the cheerleaders had gone off to practice. She skipped it to sit in the library with her lunch and get things done. Finally, the bell for her free period rang, and she jumped up, and practically ran out of the library. She waved to Rosalie and Emmett, as they headed to the Gym, and then ducked into the front office. She waited until her siblings were behind the large wooden doors before she ducked out of the office. Nobody had noticed her there; at 6th period, most of the teachers were leaving, and the office was a zoo. Mira ducked into the restroom by the nurse's office. It was the only one in the whole school that had a single stall and a lock, and so it was there that she chose to make her call. She pulled out her cell phone and punched in the number for the Volturi's personal line. It was answered on the second ring by Marcus himself.
"Marcus. Hello. Mira Schwarz-Cullen. I have some information for you."
"How are you, child?"
"Fine, fine. The Cullen's are great. Listen, there is a coven of vampires planning a coup. You guys should check it out. I think they're planning a massive get-together Saturday morning, at dawn, our time. You really should look into it."
"Are you sure, Ms. Cullen?"
"Sir, I have never been so sure about anything in my life. Carlisle didn't want me to call and bother you, but I felt honor-bound to tell you."
"Thank you, child. We'll look into it. Heavens, it's the middle of the afternoon there; why aren't you in school?"
"I am, actually. I have a study period, so I had some time to duck out and call you. Please don't tell Carlisle."
"Heaven's no."
"Thank you. I should go before I get caught. Thank you for your time, sir. I appreciate it."
"It's the least I could do." He hung up then. Mira smirked.
"Indeed," she said out loud. She glanced at the time on the phone; she had just 10 minutes to make it to upstairs to her Algebra class. She used the time to change into her jeans. She left on the top she'd worn under her uniform, changed her shoes to flip-flops, and pulled the cardigan she had packed away over the top. She straightened her clothes, smoothed her hair, and fixed her lip gloss, then hurried out of the bathroom and up the stairs, just in time to hear the warning bell ring. She slid into her seat next to Emmett and noticed with despair that Frank's seat was still empty. She tried to keep her mind fully involved in the lesson, and her face blank, since Emmett kept looking at her. Finally, mercifully, the final bell rang, and they headed back home.
She and Rose arranged to hunt an hour later; she excused herself upstairs to put things away, and changed her shoes to her ratty sneakers. She exited the room to find the Romanians. She found them in Carlisle's study, poring over some documents. She cleared her throat as she walked into the room.
"Hi. Do you have a minute?"
"Sure."
"Can you tell me about the original treaty you guys made with our families?"
"Carlisle hasn't spoken to you about it?"
"Yes, a little. But I think I mostly wanted to know the reasons WHY you made the pacts?"
"We were hoping for a takeover, and thought your families could assist us."
"Did we?"
"Yes, at first. But it wound up being null because of the treaties you made with the Volturi."
"I understand. Thank you for your time. I gotta go; Daddy makes me hunt occasionally or I get sick, and it's about time." She stood and strode across the room. The Romanians were looking at her inquisitively.
"Mira, does Carlisle know you call him "daddy?"
"Yes, but he doesn't particularly like it, I don't think. I forget that he prefers Carlisle. Please don't tell him."
"Your secret is safe with us."
'Thank you."
"No problem. Please excuse us, we have some work we need to do."
"Of course." She left then, mentally noting the information the vampires had given her. She went back to her room and crumpled up the paper she had copied and dyed the night before, and then slipped it under her mattress. She pulled a sweatshirt on over her sweater and went downstairs to find Rosalie. The vampire girl, Maggie, stopped her on the stairs.
"Hey, Mira. How did you become a cheerleader?" Mira smiled at her, but saw Rose beckoning for her to go.
"Maggie? I'm so sorry, but Rose and I were going to hunt. You want to come? We can talk while we're traveling. I don't think Rose will mind."
"Sure, I'll come along, but I've hunted already."
"Let's ask Rose." Mira led the way down the rest of the stairs, and towards Rosalie.
"Hey, Rosalie. Do you mind if Maggie comes with us to hunt? We want to do some girl talk."
"Sure. Let me just let Esme know we're going, and then we can leave. Why don't you wait outside?"
"Ok." She smiled at Maggie, and led the girl out of the house, through the garage, and out onto the front lawn where Jasper and Emmett were tossing a ball.
"Hi, guys." They smiled and nodded, but didn't take their eyes off the ball. She shrugged and turned to Maggie, pulling on the sunglasses she had stashed in the pocket of her sweatshirt.
"So. I became a cheerleader simply by trying out."
"No, I meant, how did you get Carlisle and Esme to let you?"
" Well, I actually talked to Esme first, but I just told them that I was yearning for a sense of teenaged normalcy, and that cheering would help me do it. Besides, I'm pretty, and smart, and it would be a good reflection on the Cullen name. I'm not sure they bought that line, but they did permit it. Why? What do you do to fit in?"
"I don't, not really. I was thinking I could go out for sports or something, but Siobhan and Liam are a little reticent. Things are a bit different in Europe; we don't really have cheerleaders at school events, but we do have clubs and stuff. I would love to have the chance to try something. I could never approach them like you did, though."
"Yes, you could. I could help you. Alice, too. She's helped me a lot. Oh, here's Rosalie." The blonde vampire came and stood by the two girls.
"Ready? Esme wants us back by dark, so we don't have a heck of a lot of time." They nodded, and took off into the woods. The young girls chatted easily, with Rose interjecting when she had an opinion or when they asked her a question. No one talked about the events set to transpire the next day. Before long, they were well away from civilization, and Mira sought out her target, a smallish deer feeding alone near a creek. It was this time that she always felt the worse-right before the kill. It wasn't fair, really, when you thought about it. But she did it; killed the deer and drank just enough to keep her strength and satisfy her vampiric half . She had pulled the deer into a wooded area away from the other two; that's why she preferred to hunt with Rose, she was feminine enough to understand Mira's views that hunting was simply not girly, and was, in fact, quite disgusting. It made her feel self-conscious and kind of dirty. She cleaned up, and said a quick little prayer for the deer's soul; the other reason she preferred to hunt with Rose. It was the only thing Rosalie didn't make fun of her for. She found the other two waiting outside the wooded alcove, and they quickly returned home. Dusk had just set when they came through the door. The trip home had been quieter; Mira always felt stupidly guilty after a hunt, and fought the demons that haunted her for a good few days after a hunt. Since she had been with the Volturi since young childhood, she'd had to kill occasionally, and the things associated with kills were never good. She thanked Rosalie for going with her, and waved to Maggie, who was going to go shopping with her coven to pick up something; the girl had told her what it was, but Mira had been distracted. Mira went to the kitchen to use the phone; she wished she could have one upstairs, but that's where Carlisle had drawn the line, so she was stuck calling Frank within earshot of a boatload of vampires. She quickly dialed his number, but was frustrated when his mother answered.
"Hi, Mrs. Jones. This is Mira Cullen, is Frank home? I missed him in school today, and wanted to see if everything was all right." The woman told her that Frank had felt ill that day, and had chosen to stay home. Mira couldn't know that he was actually preparing to help her family the next day.
"Well, could you please let him know I called, and see if he feels like calling me back? I won't be up late, and I won't be around until tomorrow afternoon, but if he's feeling better, maybe we can hang out and listen to some music?" The woman agreed to pass on her message.
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Jones. Have a great evening." The woman thanked her and asked her to pass her regards to her parents, and then they hung up. Mira sighed loudly and replaced the receiver. Esme wandered into the kitchen.
"What's the matter, dear?"
"I guess Frank is sick. That was Mrs. Jones, she sends her best. Mom, I have to do some homework, but I won't be up too late. I don't want dinner; I think I overdid it earlier with Rosalie." Mira knew she looked distracted; there was something up with Frank, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Plus, she really was sick to her stomach from the hunt, and probably wouldn't be up late.
"Ok. Carlisle wanted to get everyone together around 8, though, when he got home. Can you please stay up until then?"
"Of course. If you need me, I will be upstairs."
"Oh, Mira. Please put your laundry out, and I can do some."
"Thanks, Mom. I will." She turned and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Esme had noticed her distraction, but didn't say anything.
In her room, Mira pulled out her texts, but didn't really study. Her thoughts took her back to that afternoon, and the phone call she had made. She had begun to have inklings of something like remorse, but knew that if Carlisle knew she had called the Volturi, she'd be dead meat. She contemplated calling Volterra, but realized that if they had taken her seriously, they would be gone, on their way to New Hampshire by now. She sighed loudly again, and started to sort her laundry. It wasn't much, as she usually did her own laundry and had just washed most of the things she wore that week earlier. So she carried the pajamas and cheerleader uniform and dirty socks to the laundry room, and dumped them in the communal hamper. She started a load of whites, mostly linens and towels, but also the rags she'd used to clean up the bathroom a few days earlier, when she'd cut herself opening a container of makeup. It had been vacuum-sealed, and she'd stupidly used a knife to wedge it open and had cut herself a bit. She dumped a bit of bleach into the water, and flipped the machine on. She wandered back to her room, and settled at her desk. She worked quietly and hard, until a knock at her door snapped her back to reality.
"Mira, please come downstairs. I want to speak with everyone." It was Carlisle. She opened the door, and smiled.
"No problem." She shut the door behind her, and followed him down the stairs. She took a spot on the floor. Carlisle began to speak, but she really didn't hear him. She was thinking about the next day, when all of a sudden, she noticed everyone looking at her. Carlisle had apparently asked her something, but she'd missed it.
"Sorry, Carlisle. I missed that. Can you please repeat it?" He sighed, and looked slightly annoyed.
"Yes, I was just trying to see if you were prepared for tomorrow."
"OH! Yes, I am ready. Sorry, I'll pay better attention."
"Thank you." He continued speaking, mostly giving suggestions on who should do what when. Alice interrupted him, looking a little horrified.
"Carlisle. I just saw something. The Volturi; I think they're coming. Not for us-I saw some dead vampires I didn't recognize." Mira inhaled sharply, and Edward looked at her suspiciously. Carlisle didn't seem to notice.
"Thank you, Alice. Well, it might save us some work, then. All right, everyone can go. If you need to hunt, or prepare in any way, please do so right away. We'll need all hands on deck at dawn's first light. Thanks, everyone." Carlisle didn't know that Edward and Mira were having a heated mental exchange.
"Mira, do you know something?"
"No, I just suspected they'd come, is all."
"Why'd you suspect that?"
"Well, the other clan wasn't shy about talking aloud about their plans for a takeover."
"Yeah, but how did the Volturi find out?"
"Probably read my thoughts. I think they watch me."
"Fantastic. You need to tell Carlisle right now; he might be able to stop them."
"I doubt it. I bet they're already almost here, if not already here, lying in wait. It's what they do, trust me. And, hell, if it saves lives, let them deal with it, not us."
"I see your point. But if it ever comes to light that you had anything to do with this, I'll kill you myself."
"Edward, be real. Why would I put anyone in unnecessary danger? Please."
"Just letting you know."
"I got it. Can I go now, or do you want me to also tell you all about my homework while you're hanging around my head?"
"Go."
"Thanks." Mira stood to leave, but ran smack into Rosalie instead.
"Ow!"
"Sorry, Rose. Edward was distracting me." Both girls glowered at their brother, before Rose stepped out of the way, and Mira continued upstairs.
Once upstairs, she began to prepare things for the next day, but was careful to keep her mind as blank as possible about anything of merit, concentrating on thoughts that Edward would ignore, like what was up with Frank, the new cheers the squad was practicing, and the lyrics to her favorite songs. Occasionally, she would review the things that her and Jasper had practiced, but even that wouldn't get Edward excited. As she concentrated, she picked out an outfit that would serve multiple purposes: comfort, warmth, and ease of movement, just in case. Plus, it was as attractive as clothes for battles could be. She had selected a pair of sturdy khakis, a long-sleeved turtleneck, a purple fleece sweatshirt to go over that, that had plenty of pockets, and her hiking boots. She also got her parka out, just in case, and into the front pocket of her fleece, she placed the papers she had gathered, the matches, and a makeshift dagger she had spent her lunch hour making. Finally, she went to bed, and mentally shut off her thoughts so she could rest well enough to fight. She had remembered to charge her phone, and set her alarm for 4:30 am, which was ungodly, but was the time which Carlisle had requested she be up. For the first time in a week, she slept peacefully, deeply, dreaming of a trip she had taken once with her father, many years before, so many she couldn't remember when exactly , a trip to Paris; it must have been before she was captured, and it was summer. She could remember eating a croissant and hot chocolate at a café across from the Eiffel Tower. It was serene, and the memory seemed to soothe her. When her alarm shrilled the next morning, she awoke smiling. She dressed quickly, put her hair in a braid, and slicked on some chap stick. She wore no makeup today; it would be better to look as natural as possible. She jogged down the stairs, noting the tension and relative silence. She went into the kitchen, where she found Carlisle and Esme deep in conversation, about some kind of problem. She didn't really listen; her mind was still in Paris on that warm summer day. She was still remembering the smell of cherry blossoms near the Louvre when Carlisle had tapped her shoulder. He had spoken to her, and she had missed it again. She startled, and he grimaced.
"Mira, I would appreciate it if you could pay more attention today. We cannot afford for you to be distracted. If there's something on your mind, please share it now."
"No, just was remembering my dream from last night. My father and I once went to Paris; for some reason, it came back yesterday. I am sorry; I am listening now."
"Thank you. That sounds like a wonderful memory. Anyway, Esme and I think it's a good idea if you stay back with Nessie today. Can you do that?" She opened her mouth to protest, but saw the fear and concern in Esme's face and instead acquiesced.
"Are you sure? I mean, apparently, I'm what they're after."
"Precisely."
"I see your point. Ok, yes. I will stay here with Nessie. Will we be alone?"
"Yes."
"Ok. Have you told Edward and Bella yet?"
"No." She raised an eyebrow at him, and turned to the toaster.
"Well, just tell them I'd be happy to watch her. And I will make sure she's safe, even if we have to hide."
"Thank you. I'll tell them now." He left the kitchen then, presumably to find Edward and Bella, and break the news. Esme whispered to her.
"Thank you, Mira. I know that staying behind is very hard for you. And I want you to know that we all appreciate your dedication, and I, especially, appreciate you staying behind to keep Nessie away. Please know if we need your help, I'll have Edward let you know right away."
"Thank you, Esme. I appreciate your kind words. It's disappointing, but I feel like I was sent here, by the Volturi, for the express purpose of looking out for Nessie. I don't know why yet, or how that's supposed to look, but anyway, that's what Aro and Marcus alluded to while they were bringing me here. And please know, no matter what, it is my wish to keep you and the family as safe as possible. And if that means sacrificing myself, that should be my honor. And whatever happens today, I truly appreciate and will cherish forever the gifts and experiences that you and Carlisle, and everyone else, have given me." They smiled at each other, then Esme left her alone in the kitchen. Mira slid to the floor, resting her head on the cool tile. She remained there until she heard Edward's voice rising. He sounded upset, so she stood and clambered up the stairs to find out what the problem was. She found Carlisle and Edward standing in the hallway outside of his study; Edward appeared angry, and Carlisle was struggling to keep calm, she could tell.
"Carlisle, it's just not happening. Especially alone. With Mira. It's just not going to work." He saw her standing there again, and shook his head. She was looking at him like he'd slapped her, but he didn't care in that minute. Carlisle seethed, but saw her, too, and the look on her face. She raised an eyebrow, and her open palm, indicating that she was going to speak.
"Edward, please. First of all, this is no time to be bullheaded. Secondly, I am sorry that you don't feel that I can handle it; I am actually intelligent, and I care about what happens to Nessie. If you want to have it out with me, perhaps we can find some better time," he rolled his eyes and looked at the ceiling. She barreled on, now clearly upset, "Ok, fine then. I'll just lay it all out now. Carlisle, you may not want to hear this," the older vampire looked at her like he was ready to kill one or both of them, so she shrugged and continued, "Look, I'm sorry that we can't all be the prodigal son here, Edward. Some of us in this world have to try really hard to find our place. But here's the thing, whether you like it or not, I am here to stay. So whatever you think about my personal activities or choices, that is not up for debate, at least not by you. Esme and Carlisle know what they're doing. I don't really like bringing this up again, but in case you forgot, I will. I was held captive by the Volturi for 10 years. I learned 20 ways to kill a vampire. I was bit several times, and almost killed twice. Among other things. So, in case you hadn't noticed, I am quite capable of protecting myself, your daughter, and the entire coven. Not to mention all the other vampires downstairs. Now that we've laid all that out, is there anything else?" He looked at her, as though he was seeing her for the first time. She hadn't realized she'd been yelling, but she had been, and they had gathered an audience. She continued, her voice low but steady. "I will keep Nessie safe. I really, really don't think that that field is the best place for her today, but the choice is entirely yours." He bit his lip, and then nodded.
"Ok. You're right. I'm sorry. Do you really think of me as the prodigal son, though?"
"Sometimes." Carlisle sighed, but visibly relaxed.
"I'm sorry. I never meant to make you feel unwelcome."
"I know. Look, you have my word, even if I have to sacrifice myself, I promise Nessie will be alive at the end of the day."
"I believe you. She can stay. Please, if anything at all happens, alert me immediately."
"Definitely." She relaxed, not realizing how tensed she'd been. She took a deep breath, and looked at the crowd that had gathered. She bit her lip, and sent a silent apology to whatever cosmic power watched over vampires, and then smiled.
"Don't worry, everyone. I think we got it worked out. You all had better haul your butts to the field. It's almost 5." Esme crinkled her face, but let her word choice slide this once. The other vampires filed down the stairs, abuzz with the recent activity. Mira took Nessie from Bella.
"Bella, I promise. It'll be alright. I will send word immediately at the first sign of anything even remotely suspicious." Bella nodded.
"I know. Thank you for agreeing to watch her; I agree with you. Her being in that field could be more problematic than need be." Mira smiled, and cooed to the baby.
"Come on, Nessie. Let's go downstairs, and see everyone off. Then we can watch some TV, and maybe play with dolls. Are you hungry?" The toddler nodded.
"Me, too. Let's have some eggs today. Maybe some toast, and some orange slices. Sounds yummy, yes?" Nessie nodded harder. They trooped downstairs, and saw the vampires beginning to assemble on the lawn. They stood on the porch, the baby perched on Mira's hip, watching.
"Good luck, everyone." A collective "Thanks" and wave came from the crowd. They turned back into the house, and Mira instantly locked the doors. From the lawn, Edward saw her lock the front windows, and pull the drapes. He heard the garage doors lock. The downstairs portion of the house was secure. He sent a mental message to her.
"Good idea." He saw her smile.
"No problem." He could "see" her pick up Nessie, and go upstairs to secure the windows. She worked through the house quickly, pausing a moment before she entered the others' bedrooms, saying a silent apology for invading their private space. He chuckled a bit, surprised at her discomfort. He'd realized during their argument this morning that she was feeling vulnerable, but also that she was fiercely loyal, and really did consider Esme and Carlisle in a parental role. He still stung from her "prodigal son" comment, but didn't begrudge her feelings. He stopped concentrating on her thoughts when he realized she was beginning to cook some breakfast for herself and his daughter, and also when he realized he'd been left behind. He turned and ran into the forest, trusting that the girl really would alert him if anything was amiss. When he got to the meadow, he took his place, but noticed the Volturi were there, already deep in conversation with Carlisle and the Romanians. Tanya stood off to the side, also listening intently. He was able to relax a bit, though Bella had his hand in a vice grip. He talked easily to Alice and Emmett. A message from home came through the din, though, and caught his attention.
"Just a note. We're totally OK, so don't bug, alright?"
"Good. Thanks for being so alert. I will pass it on to Bella, OK?"
"Great." Her mind turned to song lyrics then. He turned to his wife, and told her what Mira had just passed on. Just then, a dark shadow emanating from the forest caught the attention of the assembled vampires. A small coven of dark-featured vampires landed softly in the field. A female vampire in the coven appeared visibly frightened by the large mass already assembled in the meadow. A silence fell. Aro, Marcus, and Caius stepped in between the two covens, while Carlisle and Tanya silently took their places at the front center of their group. Aro summoned the apparent leader of the opposing coven to step forward at the same time that Mira's urgent voice summoned Edward's attention.
"Edward? Help."
'What's up?"
"He's here. The vampire punk boy, he's in the house. Please, send someone. I'm going outside with the baby." Edward motioned to Carlisle, and mouthed that Mira needed help. Marcus noticed the commotion, and turned to address them.
"Is there a problem?"
"Yes, it appears that Mira and Nessie are in some danger. Please allow us to send someone out to help." The older vampire nodded. Carlisle nodded almost imperceptibly to Emmett, who ran quickly into the forest in the direction of the SOS call. Edward tuned back into his thoughts, this time Mira was adamant.
"Edward, I think I'm going to have to kill him. He almost has me in a corner. Don't worry, Nessie is still safe. I think he's trying to get to her because he seems to sense that if he does that, I will give up. Who's coming?"
"Emmett. Try to keep him at bay until he gets there."
"I'll try. Dammit. Sorry. He's getting closer; I'm just circling the house right now. He seems to enjoy this, sick bastard. Crap. He just doubled back. Damn. Ok, sorry. I'm going for the kill." He heard her whisper to Nessie urgently for the toddler to climb onto her back and close her eyes. He was tracking Emmett; his brother was just a few yards away. He heard Mira curse again, and what sounded like a low-pitched squeal. He heard her began to breathe heavily.
"What's happening?"
"Oh, my God. Wait, here's Emmett." He heard her speaking to Emmett.
"Emmett, is he dead?" Edward heard Emmett kneel.
"Yeah. This is pretty old-school; a dagger through the heart."
"I couldn't do it any other way without hurting Nessie, too. I'm coming back to the field with you. This is getting out of hand. Edward, I'm coming back with Emmett."
"No, stay there."
"Not happening." Her mind went blank, and he sighed aloud in frustration. Bella and Esme turned to look at him, but he shook his head silently. They were waiting for the Volturi to finish their conversation with the leader of the other coven, and make a determination. A few seconds later, he saw Emmett and Mira emerge from the woods, Nessie still on Mira's back. They slipped quietly into the group, but not before shaking their heads silently at Carlisle's unspoken questions. He heard Mira settle in behind him, her breath coming rapidly, but evenly. A minute later, her breathed slowed, and he heard her relax. He spoke to her.
"What the hell is going on?"
" I had to kill him, Edward. I'm sorry, but he had me in a corner, and it was either I kill him or he kill me. I prefer the former. I'm sorry, but at least he didn't get enough remotely close enough to touch Nessie. I'm going to throw myself to Caius's mercy. Hopefully he'll remember that I know things that could damage them permanently, and let me off with a warning, but no telling. I'm just sorry to have to disappoint Carlisle and Esme."
"They'll understand. You're very sure there was no other choice?"
"Very sure. I think I'm bleeding, actually. Is there any way to speed this along before I become vampire chow?"
"That's not funny."
"Sorry." They fell silent when the three Volturi leaders turned to scan their group. Marcus's beady eyes fell to her bleeding arm. He motioned for her to come forward. She shifted Nessie to Rose's waiting arms, and sprang up into the air, landing in front of the old vampire.
"What happened, child?"
" I killed a vampire. I'm sorry, but there was no choice, sir. He had me cornered, and went for the attack. It was me, or him. And there was no way it was going to be me; I am sure he would've killed the baby next. Please, I ask for your mercy." Marcus held up his hand.
"I understand what you're telling me, child. Eliminating you is out of the question. I don't doubt that there was no other choice. I know that you would've taken a different way out if you could, you were always too conscientious of life. You have our mercy." She nodded. The Volturi motioned for Carlisle.
"Make the bleeding stop." She backed silently towards Carlisle, but Marcus turned back to the opposing coven and began a diatribe. She turned and mouthed a quick "I'm sorry" to Carlisle, but held out her arm. Edward took her hand and led her away from the group, towards the trees. Someone, probably Esme, had had the foresight to bring a first-aid kit. He applied pressure to the bite, then quickly flushed it with alcohol, and stuck a bandage on it. It would hold until later, provided she didn't tangle with anymore vampires. Her eyes were wet; she'd obviously been crying. He sent her a message.
"Keep it together. It wasn't your fault, and trust me, no one thinks any less of you. Actually, most of them are impressed. But you killed him with a dagger?" They began to walk back to the group, keeping their backs to the forest, but their eyes trained to the Volturi. Mira scanned the other coven; she felt on edge, as though they would attack if given a moment. She replied then to Edward.
"Yeah, if I had gone for blood, I couldn't guarantee that Nessie would've been all right."
"Well, thanks for that. I understand, but really, how did you find a dagger?"
"It wasn't really a dagger, just a really pointy stick."
"Oh. That'll be messy." "Yeah. Can you help me burn the body later?"
"Sure. Jasper'll help, too, I'm sure."
"Great." A movement in the trees caught their attention then. From the far forest came a familiar profile. Mira spoke aloud.
"What the hell? Frank? God, that is one stupid kid." She sprang up from her spot, with Jasper at her flank. She stopped in the forest where the boy stood, dumbfounded.
"What are you doing here?" She saw Jasper come close to her back. He growled at the boy.
"I'm here to help you. I spoke to your father already. He can tell you." She hadn't noticed that all eyes were on them. She heard a faraway voice call for them to come out to the clearing.
"You should go. Now." He shook his head, and ran past her to the clearing. She looked at Jasper, who motioned for her to GO. She ran after him, silently cursing the boy and Carlisle. When they came to the edge of the clearing, Caius motioned for them to stop, and speak. Mira pleaded with Carlisle to send him away. He shook his head, and mouthed for her to hear him out. She crossed her arms, looking at the boy expectantly. He spoke firmly, his voice clear and loud. Her family stood dumbfounded.
"I apologize for the interruption," he addressed Caius.
"What's your name, boy? Why are you here?"
"Frank Jones. May I please address the crowd?" Caius indicated for him to come out. Frank took her hand and pulled her to the middle of the grassy knoll.
"Like I said, I'm sorry for the interruption, and for my tardiness. My name is Frank Jones. I attend school with Mira. Look, this going to sound really crazy, but-" he glanced at Carlisle, who nodded, and then continued "I'm a shifter. I am here to help the Cullen's. But I also have some information that you may find useful." Mira expelled her breath, and her mouth dropped open. She watched in disbelief as he extended his hand, dropping some documents into Caius's hand. She heard Jasper whisper a curse under his breath that she couldn't quite make out. Frank then reached for her hand, but she pushed him away. She turned to face him as he put his hands on her face.
"Why didn't you say something sooner? You are the dumbest boy I've ever met. Do you have any idea what's going on here? Epic vampire battles. And you think it's OK? You really should go, and save yourself. I can handle this." She knew she wasn't making a lot of sense, but she was really upset, and slightly humiliated. Caius raised a hand to silence her.
"Mira, what the boy says is true. Please forgive him this transgression. Son, if these documents are real, we have a major situation on our hands."
"They're real." Mira looked questioningly at the Volturi. He handed her the paper; it appeared to be a treaty signed by the opposing coven and it was basically an edict for her capture.
"Oh. My. God." She motioned for Carlisle. He stepped forward, and she handed him the paper. He scanned it, and then nodded. They seem to hold a silent conversation with their eyes; only Edward truly could hear what they were saying.
"If I ask for their deaths, does that make me one of them?"
"No, child."
"I just want this to end. I need to say some things, though." Carlisle indicated his permission. He returned to the group, leading Frank with him. She looked from Carlisle to Esme to Edward. Edward nodded, knowing exactly what was to unfold. There was a murmur among the group, as this all took place over a matter of seconds. Mira raised her hand, palm out, asking for silence. She moved to the middle of the grass, alone in a veritable no-man's land, and addressed the three Volturi leaders.
"Would you permit me a few moments, please?" They seemed to consider for a moment, then Aro and Caius nodded. Marcus nodded a few moments later, too. She took a deep breath, and reached into her pocket, pulling out the papers she had scrounged up, along with the matches. She turned sideways, so she could be seen by all the assembled groups.
When she spoke, her voice was loud and clear. She spoke with a passion and urgency that surprised even the most doubting vampire in the crowd.
"Look around you. This is where the path of hatred and greed has led us-to the brink of an epic Vampire war. Seriously? And for what? Power? A power that is, forever, and by design, tenuous. How insane is that? Now, there has been a lot of mention of treaties the past few weeks," she held up the faux-yellowed copy of the original treaty, and continued. "This is the original treaty, the one signed by the Romanians and the Jewish families." She lit the edge of it with one of the matches. A gasp went up. "Well, today I say, your treaty is void. Sorry." She waved the other paper around. "This is the treaty between my father and the Volturi." She lit that on fire also. "I am a PERSON. You cannot make treaties about a person. So I'm sorry, but it's void, also. As the last surviving member of the saved families, I say-No more. You will now have to just play by the rules. I will, too. You can bet on that, for sure. Now for THIS piece of paper," she lilted, indicating the paper that Frank had produced. "This is just ridiculous. I refuse to have any part of any kind of takeover, coup, etc. Count me out. Now, I have the prerogative to ask for the death of each and every vampire on this paper. But I am disgusted by this scene. If there is to be any more killings today, it will not start with me. Aro, Caius, Marcus, the choice is solely yours. I do not ask for their deaths, but merely to be left alone. That's all I want, OK? I just want to live out the rest of my eternity in peace." She turned to the leader of the opposing coven, and indicated for him to step forward. From the corner of her eye, she saw Esme and Frank take a step forward. She held up her hand to them, indicating they should stay back. The vampire stepped forward, tensed for attack. She pulled herself to her full height, and tossed her hair.
"Your name?"
"Stephen."
"Stephen, I am truly sorry for the death of young Mr. Hiram, but you understand I had no choice. You heard me ask for your life to be spared, did you not?" He nodded.
"And your name was at the top of this paper. He died for you, please know that. Go away now." He growled at her, but she stood her ground. From somewhere, she heard a familiar giggle. She tossed an insult at him in Latin.
"Seriously. I said, return to your coven. Now. Tu, Os Porcus." Carlisle's warning came in clipped tones. The older man backed towards his group.
"Mira. That is unnecessary." She glowered at him, and turned away. She indicated for Aro to step forward.
"There you have it. I'm finished. Thank you for your time." She turned and hurried back to her coven. It was Caius who made the final speech.
"Ms. Cullen makes a passionate case, but the facts cannot be ignored. We agree that the treaties will be voided, but we cannot ignore the undercurrents of a coup. The rules are the rules. I am sorry, child, but death is the only possible outcome in this instance." He motioned for Carlisle to step forward, and pointed to the two Romanians on their side. As the men stepped forward, Mira shifted Nessie out of Rose's arms into hers, and edged towards Frank, who took her hand in his. The baby nestled into her chest, while she leaned against the boy. They watched, her face a mix of concern and disgust, his looking out in awe. Aro seemed to be questioning Carlisle and Stefan and Vladimir as to the intentions and knowledge of "their" Romanians. The Volturi seemed satisfied that the two Originals had no knowledge or part in the current plot, and sent them away. Only Carlisle remained; asking for mercy for the other vampires. The Volturi were not moved, and he sighed and retreated to the coven in defeat. Caius spoke then, addressing the large group.
"The Cullens and their allies have asked to have no part in the punishment. We grant them this. You have exactly three minutes to leave the field. Mira, please come here at once." The group of vampires visibly relaxed, and just as quickly as they arrived, they scattered into the forest. Only Carlisle and Esme remained behind, waiting to collect Mira. Mira, still holding onto a now-sleeping Nessie, sprang forward and landed softly in front of the three Volturi. It was Aro who spoke to her.
"Three things, Miss Cullen. Firstly, you really don't need to insult people, although I grant that it was funny. Secondly, the removal of the treaty also removes your safety. You are now held to the same standards as every other vampire. Thirdly, we have honored your requests for silence about both the telephone call and the situation with Dmitri. Quid pro quo is expected." Mira nodded her consent.
"Please accept my apology for my inappropriate comment. I let my anger get the better of me. Secondly, do not worry. I know what the rules are, and ask to reinstate the treaty at any time, that I see fit. I also agree to follow the rules of the Vampire world, while reminding you, sir, that I am only half-Vampire, and impress upon you the fact that not all those rules apply to me. Thirdly, I truly appreciate your discretion about the aforementioned matters, and I promise to keep my mouth shut. I only ask permission to tell Carlisle; I feel that it is his right to know, if for no other reason than to keep me safe if need be." Aro considered. He nodded, and amended her statement.
"Actually, you should tell all of the Cullens. But only the Cullens."
"Understood. Thank you. If there is nothing else, I will be going."
"There is one more thing, actually. That young shifter was brave for coming here today, although I am sorry he didn't see any action. Please go easy on him. We will let you know about the treaty, in writing, within three weeks. That is all. Please hurry." Mira smiled.
"Of course. Thank you." She turned to leave, springing toward Carlisle and Esme, and landing softly in the grass where they stood. Esme enveloped her in a big hug before they headed into the forest.
"What did you say, before, in Latin?" asked Esme. Mira sighed.
"I was out of line, really. I was upset, and let it get to me. I really shouldn't repeat it."
"Please? Edward and Alice thought it was funny. Latin is one of the few languages I don't have a grasp of."
"I called him pig face." Esme laughed, a deep, hearty laugh. "You know, I probably would've said the same if it were me. He did look rather porcine, didn't he?"
"Yep." Carlisle chuckled, and led the girls into the house. Bella came right away and scooped up Nessie, heading upstairs to put the child into her bed. Jasper and Emmett appeared next to her.
"Did you really call him pig face?" That was Emmett.
"Yes, unfortunately, I did." He smiled.
"Awesome. Kudos, kid. You did good." Mira smiled at Emmett and watched him float away towards Rosalie. Jasper whispered that Edward had told him about the dead vampire, and suggested that they start the fire now. She nodded, and motioned for Edward. She turned around to find Carlisle, who was deep in conversation with Eleazar and Carmen. She shrugged, and followed the boys outside. She had remembered to put the matches back into her fleece pocket, and pulled them out and handed them to Jasper. She hadn't noticed that Frank had followed them outside, until she felt his hand on her arm. She gasped softly, causing her brothers to look up from where they were kneeling over the dead vampire.
"Frank, you really should go back inside. You don't want to see this."
"Mira, please understand that this is not the first vampire I've seen burnt. Let me stay with you." She pursed her lips, but Jasper nodded at her.
"Ok. Thank you. You know, you risked a lot coming out today."
"I know."
"Thank you, though. But next time you plan to do something that could result in your being vampire dinner, could you please run it by me first?"
"Sure." Edward and Jasper had set up the kindling. Jasper handed her the book of matches and watched while she lit it. He put an arm around her shoulder, and the four of them watched the blaze in silence for a few minutes. From their yard, they could see the massive smoke coming from the clearing. As the embers died down, they quietly returned to the house. Most of the vampires were preparing to leave, and Jasper excused himself to say goodbye to his friends. Mira collapsed on the couch with Frank, leaning her head into his chest. Over the next few minutes, Bella and Alice joined her on the couch. Bella touched her arm.
"Mira, you did fantastically. Thank you for taking good care of Nessie. Edward and I owe you immensely." Mira smiled.
"Oh, Bella. I was so afraid for a little while. I didn't know if I was going to be able to keep her safe and still stay alive. But I'm glad she's OK. Thank you for trusting me." Bella smiled at her, but stood and joined Edward as he stood talking to Tanya and Kate. Alice scooted closer to Mira, and Mira moved her head from Frank's chest to Alice's shoulder. Alice crooned at her.
"You were brilliant. I wish I could be as brave as you. You really surprised us. And it was SO funny when you spoke Latin. I didn't even know you knew Latin."
"I only know a few lines. Mostly insults." Alice giggled, and stroked her hair. The three young people remained on the couch for a few minutes, until Tanya gestured for her coven to gather. Mira wiggled out from her spot on the couch, pulling Frank up with her. Alice had already stood, and was smiling.
"We're heading out now. Esme, Carlisle, Thank you for your hospitality. Mira, thank you for the most entertaining day ever. Please, come visit us in Denali anytime the mood strikes." Mira laughed.
"My pleasure. Thank you all for coming out. I appreciate your support. And I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves. I may take you up on that, Tanya, so this is your warning in advance." It was Tanya's turn to laugh. She addressed Frank then. "You, young man. Keep a firm hold on this one. Trust me, you don't meet a girl like her often." He chuckled. "I am aware of that, believe me. I intend to keep her around for awhile, if she'll let me." Mira blushed crimson, and looked at the floor. The vampires said their goodbyes, and left then, followed by the nomads, who said similar things to Mira, but luckily, no one else said anything to or about Frank. Finally, the Irish coven left, but not until Mira and Maggie whispered a few words between them, mostly Mira encouraging Maggie to talk to her coven about her dreams. They were quieter than the Americans, and left without too much fanfare. Following them were the Romanians, who expressed their gratitude to both Mira and Carlisle, and swore a promise to Mira that they wouldn't cause her any more problems. As Carlisle and Esme waved them out, Mira collapsed back onto the couch. She pulled Frank down onto the couch next to her, and snuggled deep into him. He smiled, and tugged lightly at her hair. A few minutes later, the family gathered around the living room, and she separated herself from the young man's warm embrace. She scooted over a little, and sucked in her breath. Frank took her hand, but seemed to understand that she was serious.
"Everyone should sit down. I want to tell you all some things." They all sat or stood, and when they were settled, they motioned for her to speak. She looked around the room at the faces looking back at her, and she knew immediately, instinctively, that she something had shifted that morning; she was unquestioningly and forever one of them. She began, quietly.
"You all know about my tenure with the Volturi, but you don't really know the reason I was released. Um, there was an incident last year. With Dmitri. We had a falling out. Just once. But it was really stupid, and he hurt me. Pretty severely. He basically attacked me, and it was painful. I tried to fight him off, and then Jane got involved, and it almost killed me. After that, I knew that things were getting out of hand, and asked the Volturi for my release." She bit her lip. Jasper looked confused.
"Why did he attack you?"
"Two reasons. I had begun menstruating, and apparently, he could smell me. Secondly, another boy in the guard had started to…take an interest in me. He was a little jealous. But he can't harm the guard, or they WILL kill him. Hurting me would make a point, and I was free game." She shuddered. "So that's the basic reason. I had also been asking for more freedoms; I think I was making them crazy." It was silent for a moment, then Rosalie spoke up.
"Mira, can you be a little more frank, please? I still don't quite understand the severity of what you're saying, I don't think." Mira nodded, and sighed. She sucked in her cheeks and looked at the floor, and played with a string sticking out of the seam of her pants. When she spoke again, her voice was shaky.
"He was all over me; I mean, just touching me everywhere, all over, inappropratly. Wouldn't stop. I got a few good hits in, but he just wouldn't stop. That's when I discovered that I could go invisible." She let her breath out loudly, and Rose walked over and sat next to her. She cocked her head to the side, remembering, thinking. "So, anyway, that's when they brought me here. I was just lucky it didn't result in a pregnancy. That would've made it worse." She put her hand over her mouth for a minute. Then she shook her head, as if forcing the memories away. "That's when they brought me here. And it was good. But that's the story. That's why the Volturi are so eager to please me; all I have to do is open my mouth and it would finish them. So, they try to keep me pleased." Alice and Esme looked horrified, Edward and Bella looked disgusted, Carlisle was staring holes into the carpet, and Rosalie picked up her hand. Emmett hissed, and Frank murmured under his breath about killing stupid vampires. Mira spoke again. "Well, this has been sufficiently awkward. Does anyone have anything happy to share?" Everyone shook their heads. Nobody wanted to follow up after that. Bella cleared her throat.
"Look, I'm really sorry about the things that happened to you. But I also wanted to say that you were really brave and awesome for standing up today. That was cool." Everyone murmured their agreement. Mira nodded. Emmett spoke up then. "It was awesome. But seriously, Jasper and I could get to Dmitri. Kill him, if you'd like." Mira laughed.
"No. It won't help, and the Volturi would likely kill you first. They love him. But thank you." She yawned, tired and weary from both the emotional and physical activities of the day. From upstairs, Nessie started to cry. Bella sighed, but stood and headed for the stairs. Edward beat her.
"Sit down, love. I'll get her." Bella smiled; Mira smiled too. She liked it when the others were loving towards each other, it gave her something to look forward to. Frank still had her other hand, and she looked at him. He was staring at her, as if trying to reconcile the image of her being attacked with the girl he knew and the woman she behaved like in the field this morning. She smiled at him, and he grinned back, touching her face. Carlisle spoke up.
"Please excuse me, everyone. Since things did not take as long as we expected, I am going to see if I can do some rounds. Frank, thank you for your help today. Mira, you were excellent. I'd like to speak with you later, if that's all right." Mira nodded, and Frank stood up.
"I should be getting home. My mom is probably worried. I told her I'd call when we were finished." He headed for the door, then turned and spoke to Mira.
"I'll call you this evening. You should nap. You've had a big day." Mira smiled.
"Yes, sir. You'd better call me." She waved as he walked out the door and towards his car, which she hadn't noticed parked outside.
"Actually, Mira, he has a point. You should try to nap, or at least rest a little," said Esme. She nodded and stood up, and took the stairs two at time. Her mind was buzzing, but she found, when she sat on the bed, that she was actually exhausted. She fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, and didn't wake up until late in the evening. She pulled herself out of bed, changed her now-wrinkled clothes to sweats and a t-shirt, and shook out her braid. With her hair tumbling down her back, and her blue eyes shining with a new-found confidence, she knocked on the door to Carlisle's office. He invited her in, and asked her to close the door. She sat in the chair across from his desk, and waited. He spoke in measured tones.
"What you said earlier today, I am sorry about. There was a time I was a member of the Council. We parted ways when I began to live the way I do. But if I had known things were going to come to this, I would have stayed, if only to stop it." Mira nodded. He continued. "I never believed they were truly evil, just misguided. But I stand corrected." She remained silent, sensing that he just needed to speak his piece. "I cannot believe that they let this happen, and I want to assure you, if they so much as even read your thoughts again, let me know. I will relish a kill in that case." Mira shook her head.
"Look, Carlisle. It doesn't matter any more. I'm free, and that's all that matters."
"That was the other thing. The copy of the original treaty, where did you get it?" She flushed.
"I saw a copy on your desk, and I made a photocopy. I'm sorry. I didn't really intend to have use it, but it worked out." He looked as if he was debating something in his head.
"Did you plan that whole thing?"
"Kind of. But I was really, really hoping I wouldn't have to do it. And I didn't count on that vampire coming here. That was NOT part of the plan." She shook her head emphatically. He nodded.
"Also, I have changed my mind about your young man. I think it's fine if you see him; he seems like a very nice boy. I don't think you'll do anything risky. Just promise me that you'll branch out and see other people once in awhile. You're too young to be attached to one person for eternity. It's not like the the wolves; apparently, Frank is phases as a snake, and I did some research; they don't imprint. There's some major differences in the types of shifters, though they all have an extra set of chromosomes. Anyway, that's not important. But please promise me you'll speak to me if you choose to become, um, physically involved."
"I promise. Thank you. I also need to apologize to you for my behavior this morning, and the things I said to Edward. It wasn't fair to him, and it really wasn't fair to you. I have apologized to Edward, but I think he's still annoyed. Not that I blame him." Carlisle nodded.
"I understand, and I accept your apology, and I am glad that you kids have worked things out. I always wondered if I treated him differently from the others; he has a mature soul, and I've known him the longest, and we're alike in a lot of ways. But I hope it hasn't been detrimental to any of you. I wish you had chosen a different set of words to describe your feelings, but I do want you to know that I got the message loud and clear."
"Thank you. I have one more question, if I may."
"Sure."
"What exactly does it mean now, I mean, for me? Taking away the treaty, was that really stupid and reactionary?"
"No, I think you had a point, you can't treaty a person. Besides, they were outdated, and really need to be looked over and tweaked anyway. I am sure they will grant you permission to invoke the treaty again if you need to, but I hope you will find someone to help you write it so it not so encompassing."
"I think I understand. Thank you, Carlisle. Was there anything else?"
"No, I think that's all. Oh, Aro gave me a copy of the Torah that belonged to your father, as well as some of your personal items. I had them before you came to the field. Let me get them for you." He reached into his desk and pulled out a well-worn tome, as well as a large manila envelope. He handed the items over.
"Thank you," she said, flipping open the book. "Have you ever read it?"
"The Torah? No. I was raised Catholic."
" I see. You should read it; I think you'd find it interesting. Thank you for keeping this safe. I appreciate that Aro gave it back." He nodded. She stood up and strode quietly out of the room and closed the door softly behind her. She ate some dinner, chatted with Alice, and then went to bed. They had all noticed the infestimal shift towards an unspoken truce between the siblings.
Things will go well for Mira well into the future. She continues high school in New Haven, but drifts away from cheerleading, much to Rosalie's delight, and towards sports and music instead. She makes an effort to date around, but is still interested in Frank the Shifter. She graduates 5th in her class and receives a scholarship to Brown to study Russian literature. She parades boys in and out of the house, some mortals, some vampires, and one very frustrated shifter. She spends time in Ireland, in Forks, and in Denali. She goes to law school, just for grins. She comes home to her parents for all the holidays except Halloween, and she cuts her hair and goes to parties. At 24, she begins a real job as a first-year associate at a big name law firm in Philadelphia, where the Cullen's are currently settled. This is also the year that she will marry the shifter that her family likes, and bring another Jewish half-blood into the world, just to shake up the establishment. But most of all, Mira Cullen-Jones discovers her niche in the vampire world-the protector of half-bloods. She's discovered she has the powers of each of her siblings, plus others, and has decided to quit her job at the firm, against her father's wishes, and open a prep school for Half-vampire, half-mortal people, with her family on the board, and of course, her niece as her first student.