"Are you sure everything is going to go according to plan?" Kondrat asked Monique nervously as Eleazar came in with Garrett. The two were returning from hunting with Gisbert, who made sure they didn't get lost. Eleazar figured he was worried about Beatrix being alone with Tanya and Kate.
"Yes, Carmen said she would go along to make sure they are polite to her." Eleazar said interrupting.
"Did they leave already?" Gisbert asked not really caring.
"Yes, Gisbert. I hope you don't mind, but I gave Beatrix your camera to develop some pictures." Monique said coming in as her coven sat with Kondrat. Eleazar noticed he was waiting for something.
"No, not at all," Gisbert said nervously anyone could tell by the sound of his voice he was worried what she would discover.
"Well, I never would have thought that your coven would be so open and honest." Carrie looked up towards the two. "You know open about this coven, open with other covens that can give information on other covens with certain members."
"Do you know anything about the Cullen family?" Balstin asked. "She knows a member from her human life?"
"Who?" Eleazar asked out of curiosity.
"Alice," Carrie answered. "I was a very good friend of hers when we were humans. I didn't know she had become a vampire until now."
"She didn't seem to recognize you." Garrett said, knowing they were at the same trial.
"Well, if you see her..." Carrie was interrupted as the phone rang.
"That's her," Kondrat stood up instantly, picking up the phone. He began speaking in Polish.
"What's he saying?" Eleazar heard Garrett ask Gisbert.
"He's talking to Ilona. He wants to know if she needs any money, and she's saying no because she is with someone and he needs to stop worrying. He's saying she's his daughter, that he has a right to be concerned."
"You mean that's his actual daughter?" Garrett said noticing the pictures on the mantel. Eleazar couldn't help but listen in on the conversation.
Eleazar took a deep breath, "I suppose he has the right sense of thinking."
"Did the Cullen's call while we were gone?" Garrett asked.
"Who?" Gisbert asked. "Oh, that reminds me! Kondrat, Harof called he's coming over."
"Here?" Eleazar asked, knowing who they were talking about.
"Why did you wait to tell me now?" Kondrat asked his adopted son.
"Just thought of it," Gisbert shrugged. "I've been waiting for..."
"For what?" Genève asked.
"Someone else," Gisbert answered.
"Sounds important," Monique said with a slanted smile as Kondrat went back to the phone. Eleazar noticed he was asking the same thing over and over again before hanging up.
"Did he say what time he was coming?" Eleazar asked Gisbert as Kondrat came in the living room.
"Kondrat, get out here, I sense others in there." A booming voice echoed through the house, alerting everyone.
"Guess he's here now," Kondrat said as Eleazar looked out, nervously following him. "Monique do you mind….."
"Calling Beatrix? No, not at all." Monique smiled.
"No, I was going to say not to, considering this is the first time she been with her sisters in the last eight centuries." Kondrat asked kindly. "He is here along with his coven, most likely to check up on me. Don't worry, they won't be too long."
"Kondrat, I know you're in there." Harof yelled again
"He's not the politest man. Let's go." Gisbert explained as he followed Kondrat out along with the French coven, while Eleazar came out nervously with Garrett.
Eleazar stopped and stared recognizing Harof. He was the gigantic vampire who was traveling through the Swiss mountains when Didyme was killed. His special 'instincts' told him Harof brought his trustworthiness in from his human life, but that gift fooled Eleazar. He was a loner back then, claimed he lost a mate. Eleazar couldn't help but notice a short brown hair female by his side. So much for being the widow in need of company. He had a mate now, that short brown haired vampire that had an eye for common sense. He wondered why she was mated with him.
Eleazar read his other creations as well. Harof had picked them well. There was a short, blonde haired vampire with an elf-like face that was devoutly loyal. A tall Mongolian who was faithfully obedient, both would do whatever Harof told them. It was easy for Eleazar to see why Kondrat, someone who he cherished dearly, a trait much similar to Esme's, would not want him or his daughter to travel with a man like Harof. He killed a vampire with a mate and four creations just because they were taking a cave in the Swiss Alps which he was so fond of that he no longer traveled. Eleazar watched as Harof noticed the strangers, he gave his other two members one glance and they started surrounding a tall blonde collage age vampire with the gift of illusionary repulsion. Something Eleazar had never seen before, but it was quite obvious Harof saw use for him.
"Who do you got here?" Harof asked as he gave him and Garrett sharp looks.
"Fred, nice to see you again," Gisbert smiled towards his new friend, who remained huddled by his coven.
"You too," Fred said, smiling back peaking over from his body guards that were both half his size. Eleazar observed him, he couldn't help but wonder if he was getting tired of traveling with these nomads. But he was most likely led to believe he was with a coven with a leader he can trust, like Marcus and Didyme when they first came across him.
"He's the reason why I came," Harof said. "First let me meet your others..."
"Harof, I believe we have met before."
Monique smiled politely as her coven gathered around her. Eleazar observed each member of the coven. He knew their creator before his untimely death in 1920. Eleazar had met two of the members before; Aldric, who could manipulate personalities, and Balstin, who could create the illusion of distance. He looked the two over and began to read the newer members. Monique, the new leader that had taken her mate's place with an insight in knowing the right thing in any situation presented before her. Louis, Garrett's new buddy could mark humans with potential, and tell if they are being watched for future coven mates and had expanded it into reading vampires creators if he came up close to them. Eleazar wondered what he read when they were traveling with the Volturi to witness. One he found interesting was Carrie, Balstin's American mate with a gift similar to Alice, except she had visions of the present. He wondered if anyone one though how her and Alice's gift might prosper if they had a chance to work together. Genève, Aldric's mate, was the only ungifted member but she still had dignified reasonability, that Eleazar thought would make the French coven want to leave this coven's presence right now.
"Yes, I believe I have," Harof smiled. "Monique, nice to see you again."
"You too," Monique smiled towards Harof as she tried to stand between him and Eleazar.
"And who are the other two?" Harof asked suspiciously as his coven held tight keeping Fred locked in from any sort of physical attack.
"This is Garrett, and Eleazar." Kondrat explained noticing Harof eyeing them, Eleazar in particular. "They are members of Beatrix's old coven, here visiting."
"You mean the ones that abandon her?" the blonde asked his strong sense of loyalty seemed to reach out to his brother's mate.
"Yes," Kondrat answered carefully. "They came to make amends."
"I hate it when people abandon members of their coven members," Harof snapped boldly, looking towards Eleazar and Garrett. "Once you're a coven, you're a coven, Fred, get over here I want to make a point."
"Yes, Harof," Fred came back over to the other side of Harof as the man's two creations dangled around him in a protective manner.
"If you leave this coven, you still can rely on us do you hear what I am saying?" Harof asked in a serious tone.
"Yes, Harof." Fred nodded with a little smirk as the other two came back by his side.
"They weren't with the sisters at the time. Eleazar, Garrett, I would like you to meet members of my former coven." Kondrat sighed. "This is my creator, Harof, his mate Millie." Harof must of lied about losing a mate. "Alfred, Sukh, my brothers and Fred their newest addition." Harof still gave the amber eyed vampires disapproving looks, Eleazar could tell Kondrat was glad Tanya and Kate weren't there. He could also tell Gisbert wished they were, considering it would make great entertainment from his perspective.
"I met Eleazar before," Harof backed up. Eleazar couldn't believe he had the guts to bring that up. "He had different eyes back then. Moving on, let me start by saying I am here for a couple reasons."
"Would you like to sit down?" Monique asked.
"Yes, come on to the porch." Kondrat said leading them on in a welcoming manner.
"We aren't planning on staying that long." Millie said.
"We came by to ask Beatrix a couple of questions, and give an update on…" Sukh started than became instantly quiet when Harof gave him a sudden look. After a moment of science, all five members went to sit on the porch swing as Kondrat went inside to get chairs for the other guests.
"Where's Beatrix?" Harof asked looking directly at Eleazar.
What nerve, Eleazar thought angrily.
"She went to get pictures of Gisbert's visit with the Greek coven developed with her sisters and Carmen." Eleazar answered. "She is another member that joined the sisters after…." He didn't want to reveal his mate to his creator's killer. He told Beatrix it was a good time to get to know each other once again. They weren't like the rest of his coven, who still somewhat blamed her for Sasha's death. Eleazar knew she didn't kill Sasha, she killed herself. Just like he didn't kill Didyme; Harof did. They both just got the angry lashes of mourning.
"We went to visit the Greeks not that long ago," Millie smiled. "Fred wanted to meet the oldest woman in the world. After we bragged about how smart he is, he volunteered to figure out away to get them electricity and running water. Hecate agreed to it, which surprised them. The 'others' had been convincing her for decades."
"Others?" Fred questioned, catching the quotations in her words.
"Members that we don't want to be associating with," Alfred explained. "I think those three pets wouldn't be smart enough to run electricity."
"They would most likely sniff it and catch themselves on fire," Skuh laughed.
"Hopefully," Alfred said agreeing.
"When are you going to do this?" Gisbert changed the subject, he seemed to know who they were talking about in such an unkind manner.
"When a few rumored visitors leave," Harof said sharply, as they all looked towards Fred, Eleazar notice Gisbert rolling his eyes.
"So, it has been a long time," Harof smiled towards Eleazar. He was truly a man with no conscience.
"It has been," Eleazar said sharply.
"Whatever happened to your old coven, anyway?" Harof asked. Did he think Marcus was going to stay there with his wife's creations after he killed her? Did Harof want him to stick around?
"They left after Didyme was killed," Eleazar answered. He should know, he killed her.
"She was killed," Harof let out a sigh. "That explains it. She and her mate were the nicest vampires. I remember meeting her, it was a about a century or so after the departing of my dear Viveka." With those words, he looked towards Mille. "Thank you, my dear."
"Well, I guess you found people who hadn't heard this story for the tenth time," Kondrat said coming out. Eleazar wasn't surprised Harof was bragging about it.
"Yes, I remember traveling and seeing moving boxes flying down the mountain side, along with two fresh scents and a woman telling her mate were everything was going to go." Harof said. "I walked up, and then all of a sudden I became unbelievably happy as they welcomed me in. They introduced themselves, told me about their other coven members. Didn't talk much about their old coven, just asked about hunting areas. I was happy to make such a friendship. I remember her bringing you up. Didyme told me if I know of any single nomadic woman to send them over, and she will meet them to see if they were good enough for you. I did show them a better cave those. Nice family."
"That would have been something she would of done," Eleazar said rolling his eyes remembering. Didyme would have been the kind of mother-in-law who would drive Carmen nuts. Harof then smiled. "That one inspired me to start my own."
"It did?" Eleazar asked wondering what his motive was for killing Didyme.
"Yes, remember later they came with you and that Chelsea girl." Harof said. "Became very good friends with them during that visit."
"You informed us of the hunting areas." Eleazar said.
"Well, I guess you found people who hadn't heard this story for the tenth time," Kondrat said coming out. Eleazar wasn't surprised Harof was bragging about it.
"Yes, I remember traveling and seeing moving boxes flying down the mountain side, along with two fresh scents and a woman telling her mate were everything was going to go." Harof said. "I walked up, and then all of a sudden I became unbelievably happy as they welcomed me in. They introduced themselves, told me about their other coven members. Didn't talk much about their old coven, just asked about hunting areas. I was happy to make such a friendship. I remember her bringing you up. Didyme told me if I know of any single nomadic woman to send them over, and she will meet them to see if they were good enough for you."
"That would have been something she would of done," Eleazar said remembering. Didyme would have been the kind of mother-in-law who would drive Carmen nuts. Harof then smiled. "That one inspired me to start my own."
"It did?" Eleazar asked wondering what his motive was for killing Didyme.
"Yes, remember later they came with you and that Chelsea girl." Harof said. "Became very good friends with them during that visit."
"You informed us of the hunting areas." Eleazar said.
"Yes, then you disappeared." Harof said sadly, and then smiled. "Didn't know what happened, but it inspired me to start a coven of my own. First, I found this one, in a manor with small pox." He looked towards Alfred, then smiled at Sukh. "Found this one on the Silk Road, after some bandits beat him and killed his master. Eventually, I met this pretty one when were traveling the New World, where was it dear?"
"Oklahoma, 1853." Mille smiled towards her mate.
"Oklahoma, 1853. Sick in bed. Thought she had the sweetest face and changed her." Harof smiled. "Didn't think it could happen again." He then looked towards Fred with such pride. "Didn't change this one, found him in Vancouver after he escaped some bitch in Seattle. I hate newborn armies." He shook his head in frustration. "We were on our way to end it like honorable vampires do." Eleazar doubted killing wives of the Volturi was a very justice thing to do in the vampire world. "Then I found him. He asked tons of questions about our world so we let him join. We never made it to Seattle, or the rumored coven they were attacking because he wanted to wait. That was when I found out he had talent, so we opted out to save him from danger." Eleazar was a little disappointed considering the wolves would surely have caught them before they reached the Cullen's.
"This one here gave me a hard time," He said looking towards Kondrat. "1783, if I recall, I just had them two and none of us had any kind of education in our human lives. So I decided it would be a good idea to find someone with some brains if you know what I mean…" Taking a man from his home and a wife with a child on the way, no Eleazar didn't understand it at all. "We were traveling to Bialystok for some hunting when we smelled blood coming through the air. So we checked it out and saw some bandits torturing a well dressed man who was pleading for his life. We followed them as they dropped him off in the wilderness. We watched as he was robbed of his fancy clothes and jewels, but I could tell he was still alive. When the leader mentioned going back to collect his pay, I sent these two to follow them. I looked at him, and figured he would make a good buddy, so I changed him. They came back and informed me this was arranged by a man named Marik at the request of his wife's lover because she was with his child." Harof then let out a little laugh, Eleazar found it strange that he found amusement in this tragedy. "I told these two not to kill the thugs Marik hired, but in those three days they decided to help out their new brother."
"He explained it to me, but something told me it wasn't right. It was four months into my newborn year. I heard my wife and her 'husband' was celebrating the birth of their newborn daughter and I insisted on seeing her."
"Couldn't let that happen," Harof said. He was truly a cruel man, not letting him see his own child. "So I took the liberty on myself to see the child." Eleazar wondered what kind of man would sneak in and observe a baby. "She was his, her mother claimed it was that new husband of hers, but she was defiantly his. I couldn't deny Ilona was a spitting image of him. Of course he was going to have to wait a few months until he reached his newborn mark, then I took him." He took a vampire who just passed his newborn mark and put a baby in front of him.
"Then what happened?" Garrett asked curiously.
"I would watched her from time to time, now and then. She was my daughter but I let her believe that her mother's second husband was her father and not some vampire murderer. I planned to let her grow, be a wife, and mother then die an old woman." Kondrat explained.
"She was suppose to stay in her world, he was supposed to move on in his, that was what we all agreed on." Harof sighed. "Then I made a poor decision as a coven leader."
You killed a dear member of the ruling coven. Eleazar thought to himself.
"We found out she was arranged to marry Marik, the one who killed her father. I was foolish in making a decision. I didn't put my creations' feelings into the equation. She was planning her wedding, and going on about it being her day. I told him he needed to let her go, and let her live in her world, he needs to move on in his. I should have just changed her. We moved and of course being the kind to cherish people dearly, like his daughter, he ran off on me. It scared me to death, a vampire of only two decades was going to try and change someone. We just had to go after him, and let me change her for him."
"But when we got there, we found both of them in the dungeon of his old family estate with her in a wedding dress. She was also in agony." Alfred put in.
"And I suggested it would be a wise idea to take Marik's bride to him," Harof smiled. "Now that is beside the point, speaking of your story, do these people know how you met Beatrix?"
"We found her in Moscow asking about you," Sukh brought in.
"And took her to Ilona, she took her to meet you." Alfred said.
"Yes, I was with him, having him translate with the coven living in Moscow at that time….remember what she said?" Harof said as Kondrat smiled.
"She was staring at me, as if she found something she has been looking for the longest time." Kondrat smiled. "And asked if we could speak alone."
"I said no, if you want to say something say it front of all of us. You didn't say anything, you looked at each other as the rest of us weren't even there." Harof sighed.
"And she told me about Gisbert her son, Ilona pointed out that doesn't make him her son, I told her to hush and let her continue. She then said he needed a father figure and her friend Monique told her about a vampire that can see ones soul mate when she touchs them. She saw me when she touched her. Ilona told her she was lying. I figured that it would be a good idea if we spoke alone."
"Went away for two weeks, came back to get Ilona, then went to get Gisbert and came here." Harof wrapped it up. "Because some vampire told her, you were her soul mate that is exactly who I came to talk about. I figured away to keep Fred, which is why I came to see Beatrix. I want to use….."
"Pricilla." Gisbert interrupted.
"Know her?" Garret asked.
"Good friend of mine. When Beatrix used her she shook my hand stopped for a minute and told them, her coven, that it was important that her and I become friends." He shrugged.
"Ilona and Gisbert had just recently used her." Kondrat explained. "Last I checked, she told Ilona it's this nomad in the UK."
"And I want to use her gift on Fred. Isn't that right?" He looked towards Fred.
"I guess." Fred shrugged.
"You need to show her coven a gift," Gisbert said. "And something valuable."
"Which I got," Harof smiled reaching into his pocket and pulling out an old ruby ring that seemed to have been very well polished with the Greek Symbol.
"What in blazes are you doing with that?" Eleazar snapped taking it, giving Harof a hard stare. He remembered how he seemed to know the territory, and went on about all the good hunting areas around.
"Hey, ask before you touch." Alfred said grabbing it back from Eleazar handing it over to Harof
"It is a rare piece, something ancient," Monique observed it looking into the band.
"It's my most valued possession," Harof smiled showing it off.
"That he killed for," Eleazar accidentally said a little too loud.
"The only thing I have killed since my newborn mark was humans, and Viveka's killer, but he was asking for it." Harof said, insulted by the accusations. "Good thing I have Millie now."
"How did you get it?" Eleazar asked taking a deep breath.
"It was a gift," Harof smiled. "From Aro."
"When did you meet Aro?" Kondrat asked with disbelief.
"When I showed Marcus a way out of the mountains, remember?" Harof started looking towards Eleazar.
"Well, yes, that's true, and Marcus went back to their old coven to get the other girls," Harof said remembering. "I was really excited, haven't seen many vampires that were that friendly. On our way out he introduced me his brother-in-law, Aro. I knew it was that Aro because when he touched my hands that told him how to visit his sister. After that I went hunting, and I then I found Chelsea nursing this human with plague so figured it might be a good idea to inform Didyme because the way she looked at him, they were going to be preparing for a newborn. When I came back, I saw thick smoke coming from the mountains, and I saw Aro on the path looking for me."
"What did he say?" Monique asked with curiosity.
"He thanked me for protecting his sister and her family and gave me the ring to show his gratitude, told me it was a sign that I was not to be killed." Harof smiled. "It has an inscription inside, but I never could make it out, Fred, you can read right?"
"Have a pretty good grasp for it," Fred said with a shrug. "But it's in Latin." Harof looked towards Kondrat who took the ring.
"'To my beloved Didyme, who makes everything complete'" Kondrat answered as Eleazar's mind became blank.
"Excuse me but I have to make a phone call," Monique said shocked. "Isn't that an interesting story?"
"Yes, it is," Eleazar answered coldly.
"Anyway, I think this is the gift I am going to give to Pricilla for looking at Fred." Harof started. "Now how do I make arrangements?"
"You know Pricilla is coming here?" Gisbert brought up.
"Yes, her coven lets her come here for holidays." Kondrat explained. "They trust us."
"Then we won't be bothering her," Millie started. "We just wanted to know if it would be a suitable present and we were told this would be the place to find out."
"Alright, then," Harof said taking the ring back from Fred. "We will wait, come on. Fred has that meeting in Greece."
"Do I need to learn Greek?" Fred asked looking at Gisbert.
"They have a vampire who mentioned having a mate that knows English," Alfred pointed out.
"Did vocalize your opinions about the 'lesser members'?" Gisbert asked.
"Yes, of course, but I doubt any vampire would mind." Sukh said. "They probably are tired of those rodents."
"Fred, you would need to learn Greek." Gisbert informed him.
"Alright," Harof said getting his coven's attention. "Kondrat, they do have a point though. There are some questionable creatures belonging to the Greek coven. Do you mind watching this ring for me?"
"Of course I don't mind," Kondrat said taking it.
"Thank you, Eleazar, nice seeing you again." Harof smiled as his coven stood at the same time he stood.
"You too," Eleazar answered. "And thank you for telling me that interesting story."