A/N: I warn thee now that there is many a new twist in this chapter…hopefully it'll work!

SpecialthankstoRavenclaw-Slytherin, littlegreenmonster, kiki, FengYue, SasoLOVE111, TempusSimia, dragonrain618, 'LilObsessed, PuckabrinaAlee, 1sweetmoment and MusicIsAlwaysThere for the beautiful reviews!

And apologies for the last chapter, where all the italics were stuck together…I have no idea why this happened, since it definitely wasn't written like that.

Hope you enjoy this one!

. : Chapter 25: Family Heritage : .

I scrubbed myself three times from head to toe in record time, then took to my hair with the blow dryer before twisting it up into a neat but simple French bun.

I really did despise these once-in-a-blue-moon meetings with Mother.

The woman was impossible to please.

There was always something wrong with how I looked, how I acted. It was constant scrutiny! It was worse then spy-training, I swear.

I chose a plain white dress shirt and black dress pants. She'd have been happier with a skirt, but although the wound on the back of my leg was practically healed, it was still noticeable, and that, I did not need.

Thanking the gods that I didn't currently have any pimples to cover up, I stuck with just mascara and a clear lip gloss. I thought about wearing Daddy's necklace, but ultimately decided against it. Least Mother enquire as to where I'd gotten it from.

It was an unspoken rule with us. We did not speak about Daddy. Ever.

"Okay, guys." I said as I hopped into my study, in the process of pulling the low black heels on. "Hopefully I won't be long…"

"Hey! Listen to this!" Yas cried excitedly, banishing the journal in my direction as I straightened, wriggling my toes in the damn shoes. When the troublemaker was sure she had all our attentions, she cleared her throat and read. "'It still amazes me how quickly we heal. It's only been a week since the Cold One broke Levi's leg, and already it's almost perfectly healed.' That's incredible, right? I mean, whole-lee-shit!"

I nodded my vague agreement. "From what I gather, the wolves are just about indestructible. Now, I've really gotta go or I'll be late meeting her holiness. Benny's still asleep, don't trash anything. I shouldn't be to long. I can't imagine either of us being to keen on being in each other's company for any great amount of time."

Jay nodded. "It's alright, baby girl. Sure you don't want me to drive you?"

"I think I can manage. Thanks."

"Just be careful, alright?"

"Yes, Mummy."

"Don't insult me."

I smiled at them and waved. "Bye."

They called their farewells before returning their noses to whatever they'd been reading before I'd come in. With a dejected sigh, I made for the garage with a glance at my phone for the time. Eleven-thirty. Hopefully I'd have lots of it.

oOo

Traffic wasn't too bad, despite it being so close to the lunch hour. Finding a parking space at the little Italian restaurant wasn't a problem, either. It was one thing I almost liked about Mother. She did have an astounding talent for finding the nicest places, that didn't come with massive crowds.

I locked the Enzo and dropped the keys into the purse I'd spent a good ten minutes rummaging around my room looking for, and went into the restaurant. Sometimes I wonder why I bother trying to appear half-ways respectable to her, but then she'll give me a lecture and I'll remember. Better to make an effort and spare my ears the torture.

It was still ten minutes to twelve, so my shock at spotting the inducer of my worst migraines as soon as I walked in the damn door, was probably pretty obvious.

She was calmly settled at a two-seat table towards the back, well out of the way with as much privacy as was possible in a public place.

Jacqueline Sonnet looked exactly the way she'd looked the last time I'd seen her. Which always made me suspect she had some surgical help with that matter. She was supposed to be forty-three now, yet there was not one wrinkle. She could've passed for thirty, easily.

Her corn-coloured hair was twisted up in a similar fashion to mine. Her outfit, an elegant black dress with three quarter sleeves, was no doubt designer and ridiculously expensive. Even from here I could see the jewels hanging around her neck and dangling from her ears and wrists. She was reading something atop the table, magazine, menu, I couldn't tell from here.

Steeling myself, and trying not to turn tail and bolt, I attempted to not appear so tense and wearily approached the table. It was similar to the feeling I got when I knew I was walking into a fight, only it was usually a tad more stressing engaging with her.

She looked up as I was just a few steps away and we locked eyes. Green and green.

"Hello, Darling." She smiled, her voice sounding more like warm honey in person then over the phone. It had a slight accent to it, European, that I hadn't noticed during our brief conversations. "You look…well." She was frowning at my appearance, I knew she didn't really think I looked well. Hell, I probably didn't.

"Mother." I tried to smile, honest I did.

She stood and gestured me to her. She pressed her lipstick painted lips to either of my cheeks and embraced me somewhat awkwardly.

"You're early; I was not expecting you to be." She said as she pulled back and gestured to the other chair as she sat again. "Sit, child."

"I didn't want to risk being caught in traffic, and being late." I replied as I carefully lowered myself into the plush red chair, tucking one ankle behind the other and putting all my etiquette lessons into practice. I'd never have thought them to be so useful in real life.

She waved a finger at me as she picked up the menu she'd been looking over and handed it to me. "You always were the smart one. Drink?"

"What are you having?"

"They do have the nicest white wine here."

"You order then. Wine isn't really my forte."

She laughed- a melodic tone that gave people the wrong impression about her. "Oh, my dear, very well."

After waving a waiter over and asking for a bottle of wine, whose name I dare not try to repeat, she looked back at me.

"So, how've you been, Eva?"

I shrugged, and then mentally cringed. She hated it when we did that. "Um, busy, I guess. Working mostly. You?"

"Stunning. You really should join me in Europe, darling. Such gorgeous places. And the cultures!"

Not likely. I thought dryly. Though I was surprised, gobsmacked, that she'd even offered. "Is that where you've been?" I asked, genuinely interested. "I thought you were in England?"

"One can only go so long with seeing the sun, darling." She laughed. I could barely remember the last time she'd laughed this much. Something was amiss here; this wasn't how our meetings usually went.

"England has its appeals to, of course. But Europe has always been my favourite."

I nodded, and smiled vaguely at the waiter as he returned with a fancy looking bottle and two crystal wine glasses.

"Thank you." I murmured softly as he finished pouring mine. The guy was good looking, the kind I usually went for. Dark eyed, nice physic, but when I looked at him I felt…nothing. No interest.

Raising the glass to my lips, I took a careful sip, contemplating. Don't think about it! It was fruity, the wine, somewhere in-between bitter and sweet. It was nice.

When I raised my eyes again, I found Mother watching me, an odd look in her own set of emerald green orbs. It wasn't her normal looking of scathing scrutiny.

It unnerved me. She wasn't being how I remembered her.

Can you get personality transplants? Even if you could, I'd highly doubt that she would. Last I knew, she enjoyed being a bitch.

"What?" I asked, nervous.

She sighed and lent back in her chair, her own glass in hand. "Do you like it?"

I nodded. "Yes. It's not bad."

She smiled, running one perfectly manicured, unpainted finger around the rim of the glass, her eyes never leaving mine. "The world is not a perfect place, dear. It never has been so, nor will it ever be."

I blinked, surprised. "Uh, I know that, Mother." Better then most, I dare say.

"There are many a hidden secret in the histories. Your history, in particular."

I froze, white panic shooting though my veins. What did that mean? "I…don't understand…What?"

"Child, try to control your stubbornness for once in your life. Listen to me; we have much to talk about." She hissed in a lowered tone. As if she feared we would be heard.

I frowned. "Mother, what's this about? ...You weren't just in town, were you?"

She scoffed lightly, finally looking like the woman I knew. "Of course not, darling. You know how much I dislike America. I came only to see you."

"I don't know if I should be honoured…or terrified."

"You have your father's sense of humour." She announced dryly. "Nevertheless, he is the reason you're here."

I scrunched up my nose. "Ew, Mum. I know how people come to be."

"Evangeline," She gave me a pointed look. "I wasn't talking about babies. I was referring to the reason why we're here, today, dear."

"…Oh."

She chuckled, amused by my sudden attack on blondeness. "First, we shall eat. Then I think it best we take this conversation outside. There's a lovely little park just around the corner. I think a stroll would be nice, don't you?"

"Uh, okay?" I sipped the fruity wine again, wishing for something stronger. "Mother, you're confusing me, you know that, don't you?"

"Yes, dear."

"Is that your general aim in life, or, do you just enjoy it?"

"Evangeline, don't get catty with me, child. I haven't given you any reason to be upset with me. Yet."

I scoffed. "Please, Mother. You've given me a good ten years worth of reasons to be upset with you. And for the record, I don't like the sound of yet. Maybe I should just leave now…"

"You'll do no such thing!" Mother snapped, irritated, automatically making me lower myself back into the chair from my half risen position. "You need to hear what I have to say to you. It's…time you learnt your true heritage." She didn't seem terribly keen about the idea.

I regarded her cautiously. "Excuse me?"

She narrowed her eyes at me, and then shoved a menu under my nose. "Don't pretend to be ignorant, girl. We both know you're much cleverer then you let on. I did not raise stupid children. Now, order so we may get this over with."

I rolled my eyes as I took the menu. "What? Sick of me already? That was quick."

"Do you always have to be so difficult?"

"Probably. I am your daughter, after all. It's highly likely that it's genetic."

"Such insolence. Your manners haven't improved any, obviously." She paused, and smirked. "Though, I have no one to blame but myself. It is in your blood. Women in our line were never meant to be followers. I'd say you turned out rather well, but I doubt you'd believe me."

I kept my eyes glued to the menu, in hopes she wouldn't see the small smile it brought to my face. It was so stupid. I'm pathetic enough that I have parental issues. That's just sad. "You'd be right, because it'd be a compliment, and you don't give those to me. Or anyone, as far as I'm aware."

"It's true I don't often say things I don't mean. There are enough lies in the world as it is, without me adding pointless little comments to it. That should make when I do compliment all the more special."

"I'll admire you for that, Mum."

"There, see? I've pleased you." She looked mightily pleased with herself. "You never call me Mum unless you're happy with me."

"Or tired." I muttered dryly. Which was becoming more common these days. "I thought you didn't like being called Mum?"

She inclined her glass to me. "There is no difference in between being called Mum or Mother. One is simply more formal. You know I'm old fashioned."

"Ah."

She laughed again. "Oh, darling. You can be so blinded once you get an idea in your head. You will see no reason to the contrary until it smacks you in the face. If I'd been bothered by you calling me your mother, I'd have made you call me Jacqueline."

"Right." Okay, so it's embarrassing when your mother one ups you.

She waved a waiter over again. "Ready to order?"

It obviously didn't matter if I was or not, the boy was coming now. I just nodded and skimmed the options again, deciding on just a lasagne and salad. Mother got some odd sounding pasta dish and then she dismissed the boy with a regal wave of her hand.

"So, you've been out to La Push." She said a few moments of blissful silence later. She wasn't asking either, she knew.

"Tasha been talking to you, has she?"

"No. I haven't heard from your sister in about three weeks."

"Then how did you…"

"Not important at the moment, darling. I also take it that you know?" She blinked her big eyes at me inquiringly, her voice dropping a few decibels.

My own eyes widened, realisation leaping out to grab me by the throat. "You knew?"

She tittered at me. "Of course I knew about them. I married a descendant, did I not?"

My surprise slowly began to morph into anger. "Then you told Tasha, why not me?"

"Don't take that tone with me. I was not the one who told your sister, you have your Grandfather and the last council to thank for that. No one, not even your father, knew that I knew. But what matters now is that you do."

"How did you find out?" I asked, my anger receding slightly. Still annoyed that she hadn't told me before now, but at least she hadn't just told Tasha and not me. My moods were going to give me whiplash.

She levelled me with calm eyes. "How did you?"

We stared at each other for a moment, before I sighed and gave in to go first. She obviously wasn't going to budge.

"Daddy left me a journal. Written by our great uncle during the time he and his brother went through the…the change. I confronted the rest of them and they admitted it."

She frowned. "Odd, that they would do so, so easily. It's a very heavily guarded secret."

I fidgeted, and she noticed.

"What is it you are not telling me?"

"…Would it make them more inclined to admit it if I'd been Imprinted on?" I asked softly.

Her eyes widened, and she muttered something under her breath that I didn't quite catch. "Yes, that'd make them more cooperative."

"Right…well, then, that's why they admitted it so easily."

She sighed heavily. "What is his name?"

I scrunched up my nose. "Jacob goddamn Black." Of whom I am not thinking about…at all.

"Black? The Alpha?"

I frowned at her. "No. Samuel's the Alpha."

This made her frown. "But that's not right. The Black's are always the Alphas. It runs in their blood."

I gave her a dry look. "How am I supposed to know how it works? I read part of the book, yelled at them, and left. End of story."

"You never had a high tolerance for secrets, did you? And always so hot-headed, so passionate. Perhaps you have more of me in you then I thought."

Which is ,ironically enough, ironic.I ignored her second set of comments though. "No. Especially not when I was privy to them."

"Ah. Well, my darling, I have more secrets for you, and you're not going to like them."

"Goodie. Can't wait."

She continued to watch me carefully until the same waiter appeared from the doors I supposed led to the kitchen, two dishes balanced neatly on a large silver serving platter.

"Yes well, it's a good thing you are my daughter."

"Why's that?"

"We're very tough-skinned. Eat up, and we'll take that stroll."

oOo

After our meal, Mother paid for it and promptly left the restaurant, leaving me to scurry after her. The park was where she said it'd be, and was just as deserted as the restaurant was. Which I dare say was the whole reason she'd chosen it.

"The werewolves aren't the only kind of magical beings on this earth, darling." She began as we went along the cement path that winded between little feature gardens and larger trees.

"I know." I mumbled. "Apparently there are Vampires, too."

"You are better informed then I thought you'd be." She mused thoughtfully. "But it does not end with the Native's legends. There are others."

"…Others?" I asked slowly, wearily.

She cast me a glance out of the corner of her eye and smiled slightly. "Yes, darling."

"Oh great! Just what I bloody need." I kicked at a stone on the path. "What's next? Fairies? Trolls? Giants? Mermaids?"

"Fairies, yes. Also called the Fey, they prefer that. Trolls, giants and mermaids, no. I'll never understand how men confused giant squid with half-human, half-fish creatures. They really do have the strangest imaginations."

I was gawking at her. "Fairies? As in, Tinkerbell?"

"They come in a range of sizes, darling, and have a very complex society."

"Of course they do." Marvellous. Just bloody marvellous. "Anything else I should know about?"

"Wicca, though more commonly known as witches to humans." She smiled, wistfully. "So many stories over the centuries have destroyed the traces of truth. So many versions of the one thing…it becomes awfully confusing after awhile."

"Brilliant." Major sarcasm, but at least I wasn't freaking too much, right? Yeah, right.Tell that to my sanity.

"There may…be other kinds, but it is not anything you need to delve into, darling."

"Sparing me migraines now? It's a bit late for that, don't you think? Maybe if you said Angels it wouldn't be so bad." I scowled, not really meaning it. I didn't want anything other then humans on this earth.

"Be careful what you wish for. Just because something has a name of purity, does not mean it ispure. If there were indeed Angels, then there would be the chance they'd be fallen ones, whose allegiances may have changed." She gave me a serious look. "You should know to be cautious of everything, dear. And that not everything is as it appears."

I stared back, feeling very cautious and suspicious at the current time. "I was kidding, I don't want any of them! You…You seem to know and awful lot about this, Mum."

"I should. I am a Wicca."

…

"Oh for fucks sake." I glared up at the sky. "Why me? Can't you go and complicate someone else's life?" I looked back across at Mother, who was watching me with an arched brow. "You're a witch?"

"I prefer the term 'wicca', but yes, it's the same thing." She looked like she'd continue, but stopped. "'Tis a story for another time, my child."

"Witch genes and werewolf genes, great. Like I didn't have enough problems already. Thanks, Mother."

She rolled her eyes and continued walking, making me realise only then that we'd paused, and left me to again scurry after her.

"Don't be so dramatic. It's not the end of the world."

"Oh yeah? And if I one day explode into a giant slobbery dog? Will the world end then? And what about you? What delightful family traits can I possibly expect from you?"

"You won't phase, darling. You would've, had I not altered your powers when you were still growing inside me."

That stunned me. "I…I…Your gonna have to explain from the top, I'm not comprehending anything. You cast a spell on me?"

She chuckled. "Yes I can see that. Shut your mouth, dear. You look ridiculous. But yes, I cast a spell on you to bind any active powers you would've received from myself or your father. You'd have probably phased by now if it weren't for that. You inherited more from your father, obviously. I was hoping you'd be more like me, but…it wasn't to be."

"I would've been a wolf?"

"Yes. You still are. It's just…hidden, most of it. Your faster, stronger and tougher then a normal human, you hear better and you see better. Not enough so that it would be noticeable, but enough that it sets you apart."

"I heal faster." I whispered, mind mulling it over.

"Yes."

"But…why bind it?"

She raised her eyebrow at me again. "You wantto be a giant slobbery dog?"

"No, of course not, but…I want to know why you didn't want me to be."

She hummed and pulled me down next to her on a little iron and wooden bench in the shade of a great oak tree. "Once you're a wolf, you're tied to that horrible little place. Most never leave. I despised it there. I didn't want that restriction for you. I bound the wolf and its instincts so you could be free to make your own choices. I didn't have this problem with Tasha; she has neither active wolf nor wicca genes. It's so rare with daughters, I thought you'd be safe too, but you weren't."

I was quiet for a moment, then, slowly, I reached over and slipped my hand into hers. "Thank you." I murmured softly.

She squeezed my hand and smiled at me. "It's alright, darling."

"Mum? If you hated it there so much, why did you stay so long? Or even marry Daddy in the first place?"

"Oh, my darling. I did love your father. As strange as it were, he would've been a wolf, too, if there'd been Vampires in the area. Wicca very rarely mix with other magical beings, we're so old a race that grudges run for centuries. We also believe more in pure-bloods, as half children are at a greater risk all their lives. But I loved Oliver…and the traditions didn't matter to me anymore."

"Why you leave him then?"

She looked up, to the branches over our heads, the leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. "I knew he was ill. I could feel the disease under his skin. I told him, I could cue him, if he'd let me take him to the older wicca. But he wouldn't, he refused to. Stubborn man, he could've lived!"

She was clenching her hand around mine so tightly, I was half afraid that it'd loose the circulation and drop off.

"Why wouldn't he go?" I asked, feeling more miserable then I had before. "Didn't he want to stay with us?"

Mother snapped her eyes from the trees to me faster then lightening, and it even looked like it flashed within them. "No, Evangeline." She laid her cool hand against my cheek. "Don't think that, darling. Your father loved you more then anything. More then his own life. He would not go to the wicca, because he feared what would happen if they found out about you and Tasha. He was afraid they'd want too…for being what you are. It was understandable. But I could not stay there, and watch him die when I knew he could be saved. And he did not wish you to see him so sick; he didn't want you to remember him like that."

"That's what the fighting was about."

She gave me a sad smile. "Yes."

I sighed. "Why didn't you tell me any of this before now?"

She patted my leg gently. "You weren't ready to know. I wouldn't have chosen to tell you now, either. But the damn wolves changed that for me."

I sniffed. "I have a right to know."

"I never said otherwise. You'd have just handled it better if I'd gotten to tell you when I knew you were ready to hear it. You will handle it now, of course, but it could've gone better."

I shrugged. "I figure I'd have flipped no matter when you'd told me."

She smiled wryly. "Yes, I dare say that would've been a probability. And there's more."

I sighed. "There's always more."

"Until the end."

I stared at her, mouth open. "Did you just…make a joke?"

She raised both eyebrows. "I did marry your father, didn't I?"

"Who are you and what've you done with my Mother?" I demanded.

She laughed. "Don't fret, darling, you'll hate me again in a minute."

I think I sagged. "And I was enjoying us getting along for once." How easily I hoped…you are not this weak, Eva!

"You'll always have family, my darling. Never fear being on your own, it's something you will never have to face." She said, tucking a stand of black hair behind my ear that had escaped the bun.

"I have a knack for getting rid of people. Or choosing the wrong ones and having them turn on me."

"Your friends will not turn on you, darling, don't fret."

I want parents! My mind pleaded. I want a Mummy I can run, crying to. Who'll kiss me and hug me and tell me it'll be okay! I want to believe it will be.

"I know they won't. It would've been nice if no one else had, either."

"You're my daughter, you'll be fine."

"Mm. Thanks for the confidence." No one can see what you feel, the facades are how you survive, remember? Inner voice whispers echoed. They will prey on your weaknesses.

She chuckled, then sobered and became the serious looking business woman I remembered coming home from the office when I was younger.

"It's about Samuel."

I nodded.

"He's not your cousin-"

"That's the best damn news I've heard all week." I grinned widely at her, but it faded when I took note that her expression hadn't changed.

"No. He's your brother."

A/N: Okay, well….I'm nervous about your reactions to this chapter, to be honest. I wasn't planning this when I'd first come up with the story idea, but when I was writing it just…uh, happened? It has given me a whole heap of new ideas though….

Thoughts? Please, please, please let me know what you think of this. The rest of the story has sort of become based on this so…god, it feels like the first chapter all over again, lol.

Next one shouldn't be far off. It's kind of turned into a stalemate situation here. No one's doing anything until they know what everyone else is doing, ha.

Hope you enjoyed it, and leave me your opinion (:

Love

~Meg xx