The Wanderer's Lullaby

by KNeu21

(6)Sequel to 'TGoChange'-Avery Alexis Paige has spent her entire four years of life in the dark. Blindly following. When her father suddenly leaves without her, it's up to her to find out why. Two strange, feuding covens offer the answers she needs, but what she learns begins to test the bond she's built with her father to the limit. NOW COMPLETE!

7. Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

"I don't even know if it'll work." I muttered, turning away. My arms crossed themselves over my chest, giving away how insecure I felt as I continued, "I've never tried to use my ability on him, and.. He's my dad, you know?"

I'd just gotten done explaining said ability, and I knew I had their complete attention. The others had even made an appearance outside, right at the right time to hear what I could do more clearly. I couldn't blame them. I'd have been curious too.

"Alex." Leandra finally spoke up, "If you could work on that, that could be exactly what we could use."

"I know." I groaned, "Conner said the same thing, but do you know how hard it'd be to work on it? Not only is it iffy to use, but permanent. I don't know how to undo it if I had to."

"Find some random person." She suggested, "Just make sure nobody important is around. It's that easy."

"You want me to just walk right up to someone?" I asked, "That doesn't sound right to me. There could be side effects, unintended consequences. Doesn't that bother you?"

"She has a point." Carlisle murmured, "Something like this could potentially be dangerous to work on like that."

"Then how is she supposed to work on it?" Leandra asked in return, "If it helps, I'd do it." I shook my head, looking down.

"Think about it, princess." Mikah murmured to her, "Honestly, I can't blame her for being less than enthusiastic about this ability. How scary it must have been to find out about when she was young. Worse than yours, because yours didn't directly effect another person."

"It's not even that." I mumbled, "Yeah, that part sucked, but it's not even about that." He looked to me, "It's just.." I hesitated, taking a breath, "Who wants to be completely forgotten?"

My gift was simple to use, but complex in the way it made me feel.

My one fear was the biggest part of hating what my ability could do. It must have been an inherited fear, because I couldn't remember a time when I'd ever really had to worry about it before, but it was there just the same.

I was terrified of being forgotten. By anyone. I wanted to mean something, to matter. That's all I ever wanted. My gift ruined that for me if I didn't control it.

I had the ability to completely remove any trace of myself from someone's memory.

It didn't hurt the person, as far as I knew, but it hurt me by making them forget I even existed. Like meeting me for the first time when I spoke to them next.

My main worry, was that my memory would never stick with someone I used it on. That removing it would make it so they could never remember meeting me if they met me after I used it if I were to change my mind.

And to even consider using it on the one person that had always mattered most to me? The thought terrified me completely. Not to mention that it was the weakest way out. A guaranteed way to get away from a confrontation unscathed, and if I could include others?

It'd be a very sought after ability to most everyone. To those that wanted to live in peace, like Carlisle and his coven, or to those that wanted to wreak havoc without the fear of getting caught.

Being terrified of being forgotten, and having an ability like mine? All I could do was thank my lucky stars that I seemed to have control over it. That I'd gained control over whether or not to use it about the third time I wiped someone's memory accidentally.

Either never accidentally using it on my father, or he was immune to it. I wasn't sure which.

"It could really help you, Alex." Leandra replied, "Especially if used on the key people? Wouldn't you want Darren and Omar to forget you existed?"

"Then, when my dad gets back, he can beat me unconscious for pulling that shit on two of his best friends." I muttered sarcastically, "Great. Awesome plan. When do we start?" She looked down, "And besides. Like I was telling Jasper and Alice last night. I'm not a coward. That's the coward's way out, and that'd leave you all with pissed off neighbors that have no idea why they're pissed off. They're gonna know something's up."

I sighed, "But if I could figure out a way to include everyone here in it as well, that'd change things. I'd use it, no problem, but I'm not just packing up and skipping town right when they start this shit with you guys. No way."

"Okay, so we see your point." Mikah murmured.

"So, that's interesting and all, but back to the issue." Eli sighed, looking to Carlisle, "What do we do about this whole problem? Clearly what we usually do doesn't work."

"Obviously, we can't wait for them to make the first move anymore." Carlisle replied with a sigh of his own, "That's only asking for trouble."

"You want us to make the first move?" Leandra asked, surprised. He gave a nod, which seemed to confuse her, "We never make the first move."

"If we're going to protect ourselves, then it's passed time we changed strategies." He explained, "It's become very obvious they're planning on making a move soon. We can't let them catch us off guard. Which is why I wanted everyone here."

"What'll we do?" Mikah asked, frowning a little himself. This was obviously new to him.

"Relocate." Carlisle replied, and Leandra looked down beside me, "And we split up." That had her looking back up.

"Split up?" Cole asked, surprised as well, "You can't be serious." Carlisle gave another nod.

"We'll need to go over this further when Tanya arrives, but I believe it'd do the most good when throwing them off our trail." Carlisle explained, "Key members of each coven band together in three different groups. It'll mix up our scent, and will force them to split up as well."

Both Eli and Cole stared at him at first, until they both glanced at each other.

"That's fucking brilliant." I finally laughed, "Holy shit."

"She's right." Eli finally agreed, laughing a little, "Aside from the cursing, that's brilliant, Carlisle."

"Communication, however, is crucial." Carlisle continued, "We'll need to stay in constant contact with each other. They'll be searching for me, no doubt, so we need to confuse them."

"What about pairs?" Leandra asked.

"If this is going to work, we'll need to split up." He answered, "Allowing pairs will only add too much of one scent in one direction. If we all took our mates with us, it wouldn't be balanced, and they'd be more focused on protecting them when it came time to face a fight. If only a few took their mates with them, the others would feel resentful or left out."

"I'm not going anywhere without her." Mikah muttered, looking worriedly to Leandra.

"It sucks, but you have to." Emmett joined us in the yard, "She'll be okay."

While we waited for Tanya's group to get here, Leandra decided to go back inside. I followed her this time, up the stairs to her room. I watched from the doorway as she stepped inside, watching her sigh and sit on the bed.

I didn't know how to describe the sight I saw, other than tired. Just the thought of having to split up like that brought her down.

"For what it's worth," I murmured, "I'll watch out for whoever I go with. I promise."

She smiled a little, "Thanks."

"I saw earlier." I admitted quietly, "While you were outside with Mikah. I saw."

"I'm sorry." She shook her head, looking down, "I didn't want you to see that. It's just so hard sometimes."

"I get it." I replied, "Believe me." She looked back up, "I know it isn't the same. Not nearly the same, but I used to get moods like that. When I was little. I always thought it was just because I missed my mother, but now I'm not so sure. He put a stop to those moods almost as soon as they started."

"I'd imagine so." She murmured, "He hates any sort of emotion."

I laughed a little, "It's a little funny how often he told me to grow up. Like I wasn't doing it fast enough for him. He used to hate it when I'd cry. I think he just didn't know what to do about it."

She shrugged a little, and looked down.

"I couldn't tell you." Silence passed between us, and I hesitated just a moment longer before asking the one question I wanted to ask her.

"What was it like?" I asked, "Having a mother?"

"Which mother?" She asked, "My biological mother, or Esme? Those are two entirely different answers."

"Both." I stepped into the room to take the seat on the side of the bed beside her. I was honestly curious. Wanting so bad to understand.

"My mother ignored me for most of my life." She explained, "My biological mother had made the wrong choice when she chose Jack for us. I don't blame her much anymore, but I used to hate her so much for doing what she did."

I stayed quiet, looking over at her.

"Esme.." She continued, an automatic smile coming to her face, "She's a wonderful mother. She's.. Everything anyone could ever want in a mother, and even more than that."

"What's a mother like?"

"They're patient." She murmured, "Kind, and they take care of you. A mother is the woman who raises you. Teaches you, guides you. Who is there for you, to hold you and comfort you when you are sick or hurt. The woman who laughs with you, who cries with you, who loves you even when you aren't exactly lovable. For whatever reason.

"She's the one that's always there, even when a father can't be. She knows your moods, she knows your dreams and your thoughts. She knows when to hold you, and when to let you go, but she never really lets you go. She's always there, waiting for the time you need her again, and she'll know exactly when you need her. Even if you don't say a thing. She puts you first. Above everything else, you're first."

To my surprise, I couldn't speak.

"Your happiness is first. Your needs are first." She continued, "Your safety is first. No matter where you go, you'll always know she loves you. She'll fight for you, no matter what it is you face, but she can also be gentle. You'll never know safety until she's protecting you. There's nothing else like it."

"I want one." I eventually admitted, "I want a mom. Maybe my dad will give me one."

"Jack is only ever out for himself." She replied, her smile fading, "I'm not surprised that you don't know what it's like to have a mother. You've only ever known what it's like to have to fend for yourself. It might seem like he protected you, but no. He owned you. There's a difference."

"What's the difference?" I hesitantly asked, looking to her.

"The difference?" She asked in return, "Well.. Being owned makes you a piece of property to him. His own selfish greed led him to keep you from anyone else. Being protected means you know you're safe. From anything that might come along. You're protected, guarded relentlessly."

I stayed quiet. She was right. She knew she was right.

"Here, you're protected." She added quietly, "You see the difference, don't you?"

Again, I stayed quiet. I didn't know what to say to that. I looked down at my hands, unsure what else to do. Knowing what steps I needed to take didn't make it any easier.

"It's hard." She murmured, "I know it's hard. Believe me, but you'll find out fast that sometimes, you have to let go of all you knew before if you're going to ever be happy. Happiness isn't possible with Jack, no matter how long you've known him. He's selfish. He's, for lack of a better term, a narcissistic sociopath that can and will act on those tendencies without hesitation. He's dangerous, Alex."

"What does that even mean?" I muttered.

"A narcissistic sociopath is someone who reacts strongly and violently to negative opinions of him. A narcissistic sociopath will usually present themselves in the best light possible, and is able to easily charm others to gain their trust. They get their way. By any means necessary. Violence, or manipulation. Sometimes both.

"What's dangerous about him, is he's the type to dominate his victims. Meaning, he likes to own people. Have total control over what they can do, and if he doesn't have total control, he makes sure he has at least some say. If they resist, or accuse him, they're met with threats and intimidation which he has every intention of coming through on.

"My mom, your mom, you. Hunter, Josh, and Zack. Even Heather, to a point. Me. Anyone he knows personally would probably agree. Darren, for example, and his entire coven. Jack's entire coven. He runs them, because it's just how he is.

"Narcissistic sociopaths never recognize the rights of others and see their behaviors as permissible, even justifiable. They're always right. No matter what it is they do. They do what they want, because they can and they will get away with it. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as only an object to be used. I can validate that one, and I'm sure you can too."

I stared at her for a moment.

"I've done my research." She admitted quietly, "I heard that sometimes it helps."

"Does that make me one of those, too?"

"Not at all." She replied immediately, "Though I have seen some traits you learned from him, I have also seen someone caring. Someone who's just learning how to put others before yourself. You know the difference between right and wrong. All Jack knows or cares about is himself. You're still learning." She smiled a little, "And believe me, I've been looking."

"Is that why you're trying to get me away from him?"

"Part of the reason." She admitted, looking down.

"What's the other part?"

"I just know what he's like." She murmured, her gaze still down, "If you don't get away now, while you have the chance, you won't another one. You'll never get another chance. Especially if he thinks you're tempted to get away. I'm so scared for you, Alex. You don't even know."

"I think I have an idea." If her emotion earlier was caused by any amount of worry over me, I think I could tell.

"We all are." I looked over at Mikah standing in the doorway, "You know you deserve better than the way he treats you."

"He's my dad." I reasoned, sighing.

"And that's not your fault." He countered. That surprised me.

Nobody had ever put it like that before. I hadn't even noticed before how apologetically I'd always said that, but I realized now.

"You're torn, because he's kept you alive this whole time, but you can bet your ass there has always been a reason for it." Mikah continued, "He's got a plan for you. He's using you."

I shook my head, "He wouldn't-"

"He would." Leandra spoke up again, "That's what you're not understanding, Alex. He doesn't love, or care about anybody. He uses them. Any way he sees fit. He's not capable of caring."

I stayed quiet again, sighing as I stood up. I wasn't mad for once. I was starting to see where they were coming from. They were making me see my entire life in a brand new light. Every moment I spent with my father was beginning to mean something different.

"Tanya's here." Mikah finally informed us, "And she's curious."

They were arguing quietly to themselves when we came back out. They seemed divided, which I noticed immediately.

"I'm sorry." Eli was muttering, "I let it slip. So shoot me."

"What's going on?" I asked, crossing the yard with Leandra and Mikah in tow. The new ones looked to me, and I could easily spot the distrust in the female leader's gaze. She didn't like me already. Made my job easy. Tanya, the obvious leader, eyed me closely.

"Hi." I told her, "You don't like me."

"It's not exactly that easy." She replied, "I'm sorry, but your relations-"

"Are not my fault." I replied, using Mikah's earlier words, "Or am I going to be blamed for something I didn't even do?" She stayed quiet, "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't into it. I'm not like that."

"Yeah, well-"

"Both Alice and Leandra both back me up." I rolled my eyes a little, "You'd think if I was planning something, they'd be right where you are, and you know it." Beside me, Leandra nodded. I sighed, "Look. I'm not here to double-cross anybody. Not double-crossing anybody is the reason I'm even here at all. Well, that and this is the best choice. Darren's an asshole, and Omar out-assholes him. So you can either like me or don't, but don't make Carlisle suffer because I'm here."

"Spirited little thing, isn't she?" A male behind Tanya muttered, chuckling. I glanced to him, deciding not to push it too much further. I laid it out straight, and if she couldn't handle that, I knew we were out their help.

Tanya looked to Carlisle, obviously trying to change her mind. I crossed my arms, waiting for her decision.

"Come on, Tanya." Eli spoke up, "She's not so bad, and she's pretty cute. Just look at that face." I glared over at him, and he immediately chuckled, stepping back.

"As I was saying," Carlisle murmured, "I have complete confidence in her sincerity."

"So do I." Leandra added and Tanya looked to her, "And I think if I can, you can."

That seemed to do it. She sighed and looked to me again, giving me a nod. Holding out her hand, "Tanya."

She was introducing herself. I hesitated only a second before taking her hand with a nod of my own.

"Alex." I told her, and though she still seemed hesitant, she forced a smile.

After that little rough patch, it went smoother. My honesty and sincerity from the start was probably what helped Tanya overcome her immediate hatred of me, and it was true. I honestly wanted to help them with this.

Carlisle's plan was chosen, and from there, it took planning.

The covens were split pretty carefully. Like choosing the best players for a sports team, the leaders knew their members the best, and could tell which of theirs would go where once the basic members of these new semi-coven groups were sorted out. One group was lacking strength, a strong one was chosen for that one. Another was lacking speed, a fast one was chosen next.

A coin had to be tossed to figure out who had the misfortune of getting me. Eli's group was the unfortunate one. He didn't seem to mind that, though.

Only one leader for three groups, however. There couldn't be any leader pairs, otherwise it'd shift the balance of scents. Carlisle led one, Cole led another, and Eli took the third. Despite the way Dess argued that she was better off for the job.

I suggested they share the leader position, because Eli was unpaired as it was, so she could just go with him. Apparently, Eli had a thing about being considered leader. I could easily see it had more to do with ego than anything.

Tanya didn't mind following more than leading. She went with Carlisle, along with Leandra. I knew she wouldn't handle anything different.

Once the groups were sorted, it was decided where we would go. Eli's coven's place was one, which was where I ended up going. Nobody but the leaders of each group would know where the others were headed. Safety reasons.

Eli's coven's place was a nice little house, dropped somewhere in the middle of fucking nowhere in Alaska, that still somehow got electricity. Some barren frozen wasteland of absolutely nothing, all lit up like it sat in the middle of a city instead of nowhere. I wasn't going to ask, because I was pretty damn tired of getting snowed on by the time we got there.

I followed close behind Eli, shaking the snow off me as I stepped inside the small house through a side door.

"God, I hate the weather- Hey." I grinned, spotting something good in the middle of the warm room we entered, "A pool table."

"Pool, too?" Emmett asked, "What'd you do, badger? Grow up in a bar? You're awesome at poker, obviously play pool, curse like a sailor, can kick some major ass.."

"Wanna play?" Eli grinned at me.

"Whatever you do, do not bet this little demon money." Emmett told him, "She'll take every cent from you."

"Focus, guys." Dess followed us into the house, "We need to be-"

"Careful." I muttered, "Yeah, we know." I looked to Eli, "Fifty bucks?"

"You're on." He grinned, shedding his jacket.

"I'll watch the children." Emmett offered, "Apparently, I'm good at it."

"Bite me." Both Eli and I snapped at him in unison. Shaking her head, Esme walked with Dess further into the house, flipping on lights as she went. Even hitting the lightswitch that went to the light above the pool table.

"Thank you." I called to her.

"You break." Eli told me, already racking up the balls, and I frowned.

"Why not you?"

"I play better when someone else does." He grinned.

I laughed, "You say that like you'll get a shot." I watched, sighing eventually, "You're making them way too tight. Trying to cheat already? Loosen them, dumbass."

"Aw, come on." He chuckled.

The game went on for about twenty minutes before Eli got his first phone call. I didn't mind waiting for him to take care of it. It was his turn anyway, and I knew he had 'leaderly' duties to take care of.

It was Carlisle, letting him know they arrived alright. They'd had to take the attention of those in Seattle, just to get by them, but they all made it. The plan now was to sit tight, and see who was found first. If they'd come here first, since we were closest, or if they'd follow Carlisle or Cole first. Nobody knew what they were going to do, thanks to Keegan. Nobody would 'see' them coming.

If this worked, my dad was going to be pissed to come back and find all his friends obliterated. I smiled a little at the thought. We just had to be ready for them.

Eli won the first game, but I won the next two. They were close, though. I had to hand it to him. He was good at it.

Getting there at night, there wasn't much to see until morning. When the storm finally broke, it was just in time for the sun to rise. Eli and I sat keeping watch out on the covered porch, each in our own padded lounge chair. Mostly in silence until I spoke up.

"Thanks, by the way." I told him, "For sticking up for me yesterday."

"I know what it's like to be doubted for being associated with them." He replied with a shrug, "It's no problem."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah." He laughed, "You don't know. I used to be a part of Darren's coven. Me and my coven broke away."

"How?" I had to ask.

"Very carefully." He replied, "None of us had ever met Jack personally, so it was easy to decide to leave."

"Why'd you leave?"

"They showed me kindness." He admitted, "I was caught, but they didn't kill me right away. Even with my gift being very useful to them, Leandra let me go." I stayed quiet, surprised at that little bit of information.

"We're newer to this group than Cole is, but they've never treated us as anything other than family." He continued, "And I know what it's like to be so confused, but trust me, you don't have to be. Choosing Carlisle is the best decision you could ever make for yourself. I was confused too, but it stuck with me."

"You have a gift?" I decided to change the subject. He grinned.

"I take the appearance of other people." He replied, "It's pretty cool."

"No you can't." I immediately challenged and he chuckled this time.

"Who do you want me to be?" He asked, "And no, I've never met your dad, so I can't be him."

"Be me then." I muttered, and he grinned.

"You might be a little hard to be, but let's see.."

Seconds later, I was seated in the seat he sat in. I couldn't stop staring, and I was sure he found it very amusing. He just grinned, my grin. The clothes he wore were loose on me, as I was still smaller than he was, but not by too much. Just a little baggy.

"I could get you into so much trouble this way." He told me, and I sounded just like how I always thought I'd sound outside of my head.

"That's fucking freaking me out." I muttered, "Change back. I don't like it."

"Come on." He laughed, "We could be twins."

"One of me is bad enough." I replied, "Change back. I don't want to have to hit myself." He laughed, but did as I said. He was back to himself easily, and just watching that process made my head hurt slightly. Like my eyes couldn't believe what they were seeing, and the confusion messed with my head.

I stared over at him.

"Why couldn't I get a gift like that?" I barked, "Yours is awesome. Mine's perfectly useless to me."

"No it's not." He chuckled, "It's only useless to you because you choose not to use it, and it's not like I physically become someone. It's an illusion. A cover, or a mask. Just a very, very detailed one."

"I don't care." I muttered, "Illusion or not, it's still fucking cool."

"Yours is cool too, if you'd ever use it." He replied, "Seriously. Look, even if you don't ever use it, you have the option to. Someday, you might find a situation that really calls for it, and you're going to find that you'll appreciate that gift instead of hating it."

"I don't see how." I admitted.

"Yeah, well-" He cut off as his phone rang. Standing up and fishing it from his pocket in the time it took me to blink. He answered it, and all sense of joking was gone. Like he could just switch from his normal, laid back self to a leader in a split second.

It was Cole this time. They'd been found first where they'd gone south, but it had only been a few to find them. Meaning Darren and Omar's group had split up as well, just like Carlisle predicted. To avoid them regrouping, the small group Darren and Omar had sent had been taken out. Thoroughly.

Cole was taking his group and relocating further east, hoping that when that small group didn't return, they didn't send a bigger one looking for them. Cole had the bigger group, by one person, so that had to have helped.

"How many were there?" Eli asked.

"Seven." Cole answered, "There's probably a bigger group looking for Carlisle."

"You've let him know?"

"Of course." Cole replied, "He was the first to know."

"Keep me posted." Eli told him.

"Same to you." Cole requested, "Please." Dess was here, so he wanted to know everything the moment it happened, no doubt. If another group wasn't already on their way here, we'd be prepared. I kept that to myself, though.

Eli turned, heading into the house. I stood up quickly, and followed him. Watching as he handed the phone to Destiny. She probably wanted to hear from Cole herself, which I could easily understand.

I found the spot beside Emmett, standing there and watching.

For the first time, it was starting to hit me how dangerous this was for all of them. All it would take would be one mistake, one mess up and an entire group could be lost. That many members of one coven.

But without my giving them warning, it could have turned out worse for Carlisle's coven.

I watched Dess talking on the phone with Cole, leaning up against the armrest of Emmett's chair, and I really began to feel bad. I felt bad that they were all in this situation, because of my dad. Why would my dad want to bother them? As far as they'd told me, they'd done nothing to him. They just wanted to be left alone.

Shaking my head, I turned. I couldn't stand to see that anymore.

Yet again, I was torn. What would be the best idea for everyone involved? I knew better than to consider leaving, but I couldn't help thinking about it. Not only was this hard on them, but it was hard on me to watch. All these pairs, these partners split up for their own safety, but in the meantime, they had to be focused on how dangerous it was for the other.

I never had a mate, and probably never would, but I could easily understand how hard it must be for them. This compassion shit sucked.

I left the house, needing my space. I just needed to think. I hated showing any kind of weakness, and compassion to me felt so much like weakness, it made me restless. I had to move. Probably understanding, I was grateful than nobody followed me.

To see the degree with which my father could tear others apart, not just one person, bothered me. To think about the sheer amount of destruction he was capable of, to see the devastation he could possibly cause without even being here really got to me. Using others to do what he wanted. Using others to destroy someone else. Pitting two covens against four others who only wanted to be left alone. All they wanted was to live.

It made me edgy. Uncomfortable, and I didn't like it.

I just walked. I couldn't stay close. I needed space, but I wouldn't go that far. I wasn't that stupid. The trees were thick here, and I could just see the clouds beginning to build again. I knew it was going to wind up snowing again. Wandering, looking for something I had no idea I was looking for. Some sort of answer.

I lost track of time, probably spending an hour out here alone. Just thinking. Pacing, moving. Trying, begging everything to make sense again. To go back to being simple, but that wasn't easy. Not knowing everything I knew now.

Knowing I wasn't followed, it bothered me to hear someone behind me. I spun at the sound of a single footstep. Spinning with a growl, instantly tense. Knowing I was caught by someone I probably didn't want to be caught by.

I almost couldn't believe who it was. He stepped forward, a small smirk on his face that I'd been begging to see since he left me.

"Dad." I couldn't help smiling, breathing my sigh of relief at seeing him standing there, "Is it really you?"

"Yeah it's me, dumb ass." He replied, "What the fuck are you doing way up here?"

I stepped forward, across the deep snow and threw my arms around him. Fighting back the tears, knowing he didn't want to see them. Just like that, I wasn't alone anymore.

"And what's with that fucking scent?" He was tense, pulling me back and looking me over.

Uh-oh.

"It's not my fault." I immediately replied, "Let me explain." His eyes narrowed with a growl, giving a glance around us, "I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for Darren and Omar-"

"Omar?" He seemed even more pissed, if that was possible, "How do you know Omar?"

I was confused, staying silent for a moment, but he obviously wanted an answer. He turned to me, his eyes suddenly intensely pissed. I backed a step up, knowing that look meant to be cautious.

"How the hell do you know Omar?" He repeated, following me.

"You fucking sent him here." I replied, still retreating.

"If I fucking sent him here, do you really fucking think I'd be here alone?"

"Well, he said you did." I muttered, "He showed up here about a week ago, dad. He showed up at Darren's in Seattle, spouting some shit about how he'd just spoken to you, and how he wanted me to work for him."

"That's bullshit." He snapped, "I never sent him anywhere. The only time I'd send that fucker anywhere is if I wanted someone dead, and he wouldn't listen to me anyway. I really fucking hope you didn't fall for that."

"I didn't." I snapped in return, "I was smarter than that. And why the fuck are you blaming me? I didn't call him."

He seemed to realize then what he was doing, turning with a growl. I was confused. Very confused. He'd obviously pinpointed my scent in the group that led me here, finding me before he found the house, but he was telling me he didn't send Omar. I knew my dad. He'd take credit for something like this if it had been his idea. In a heartbeat.

"You didn't call him?" I finally asked.

"Fuck no." He barked in reply, "My God, you don't know anything about covens, do you?"

"I'm still learning." I allowed with a shrug, "But wait. If you didn't call him-"

"Darren had to have." He growled, shaking his head.

"He said you sent him." I watched as he paced, "He said-"

"He's a goddamn liar." He replied sharply, "I wouldn't go to Omar for anything. I've been avoiding his ass." I stayed quiet for a moment, but he didn't say anything else. He just shook his head, pacing a little.

"I knew you weren't behind it." I muttered, "I told them. I told them that-"

"They kept you?" He asked, and I nodded, "Well, if Omar was involved, I'm not fucking complaining. Not that they're any better. They don't have the balls to pull anything off, at least."

"No, dad." I argued, "They're not that bad. They-"

"They, darling fucking daughter of mine, were using you." He snapped, "Just like Omar wanted to." That was an entirely new way of thinking about this. It stunned me for a second, before I glared.

"No." I snapped in return, "I'd know if they were using me. I'd know-"

"Think about it." He barked, "Why else would they keep someone as worthless as you are around, huh? No doubt they didn't start really insisting on keeping you around, providing you safety and protection, until they knew you were my daughter. Please tell me you're not that fucking blind."

He sneered each word he emphasized. I didn't know what to say to that this time, because he was right. What was I supposed to say? Deny it? He'd know instantly I was lying.

They wouldn't. Leandra wouldn't. That'd be doing the exact same thing she was warning me my dad was capable of. That'd be going back on everything they'd ever told me, or convinced me of. They wouldn't do that.

"B-But.." I muttered, "B-But I-"

"But, but, but." He mocked, "Come on, Alex. Open your eyes. I've known they had you for, what? Thirty seconds? And I could see instantly what they wanted you around for. I raised you better than that."

The silence around me was the only answer my dad got as I thought hard about what he was saying. He continued.

"And no doubt, they fed you some sob story about how I was so mean to that little bitch Leandra." He spoke quieter now, but with no less anger, "How horrible I treated her, and what terrible things I did to her.." He trailed off, and I looked up at him, "Did you believe them?"

"I-I, well.." I mumbled, hesitating, my voice dying in my throat. He took a breath, taking my attention to him. I watched as he moved forward again, standing directly in front of me and resting his hands on my shoulders.

"Don't let them do this to me." He told me, but the anger in his voice was gone, "I've never lied to you. You and me? It's just you and me, kid. Remember that?"

"Why'd you leave me behind?" I asked, "Huh?"

"Because believe it or not, it was safer for everyone involved if I left you here." He replied, "It was the best way."

"You leave me behind, start a war between a shit ton of covens, and you're saying it was safer?"

"What?" He frowned.

"Carlisle's coven." I explained, "They gathered their friends in protection from Omar and Darren. They were pissed because I wouldn't stay with them." He blinked in surprise, "That's why I'm here, dad. Waiting for the rest of Omar and Darren's group to find us."

"Alright." He finally growled, "Slow down. What the fuck is going on?"

So I launched into my tale about everything I knew, during which he surprisingly didn't interrupt me. He just stood there, a confused frown on his face with his arms crossed. Finishing by explaining up until this moment, before he even moved.

He certainly wasn't reacting like he knew anything about it, but surprisingly, he wasn't amused about it either. I couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling, which really bothered me.

He took a breath, shook his head in the silence that followed and looked to me.

"I leave you for five minutes, and the entire vampire population of this area gets their shit in an uproar." He muttered, "Let me explain something to you before you get too fucking confused, okay? I didn't leave Omar's coven."

"You didn't?"

"No." He replied, "It doesn't work like that. A leader can't just hand a coven to someone else, and expect that to fucking work for him. When I left, it wasn't on my terms."

"Omar took the coven from you." I muttered, understanding in my tone, "You didn't hand it over."

"It doesn't work like that." He repeated, his sharp tone just a little easier, "You can't just hand over a coven. You have to earn the respect of the coven members by challenging the current coven leader, but if you lose that respect, it's over. You lose that respect, you lose everything. Ten years ago, Omar challenged me, and I left to stay alive."

"Omar is creepy as fuck," I muttered, "So I don't blame you."

Then I understood. Having already been told everything there was to know about how their last confrontation with my father ended, by him letting them go, it started to click.

"By letting them live," I murmured, surprised, "You lost everything."

"Basically." He replied, "It didn't take a week after that before everything just fucking fell apart, and I've been on my own since. Not that I mind. It gave me time for another project."

"Meaning, me." I muttered and he chuckled.

"Omar was pissed that I got away alive." My dad continued, looking to me, "That's not how it's supposed to work, so I guess when I finally showed up again, Darren called on him. The fucker double-crossed me."

"Shit." I sighed, and he nodded a little, "So let me get this straight. You left me at Darren's while you ran off to do something you didn't want me in the middle of."

"Correct."

"Darren decided the best way to get revenge for you pulling the shit you pulled ten years back, was by using me to get to you."

"Yup."

"When I kept refusing to stay there," I paced a little, "He decided he needed to call in Omar, who would also love nothing more than to use me against you."

"Bingo."

"But," I paused after that word, "You're also saying that Carlisle and his coven are just using me to get to you, which honestly, I can't believe."

"Do you know," He muttered, "How much I'm worth to them? Do you have any idea what they'd do, what they'd give, who they'd use to get me back for all the shit I've done to not only that little whore, but to the rest of them?" That really reminded me.

"Dad, I gotta know.." I mumbled, shaking my head a little, "Was it true?" He stayed quiet, watching me, "Everything they said. Was it true what they said you did to her?"

I honestly felt like I wanted to throw up the second I saw him smile.

"Does it matter?" He asked, sounding merely curious.

"Fuck yes, it matters." I snapped, making that smile grow.

"Why does it matter?"

"You can't be serious." I growled, "Are you kidding me? What's stopping you from doing that shit to me?"

"And so what if I did?" He asked, "It's not like you've got any other choice, you stupid bitch." I was about to reply, but he continued, "Not like I ever would, but seriously, Alex. You can't be falling for their stupid protection story. They only want you around to get to me, because you're my daughter."

"They wouldn't do that." I finally told him that with conviction, finding the courage.

He chuckled, "Oh, you have no idea."

I had to think now.

"Well," I muttered, "You can't be here right now. Both sides are gonna be looking for you, and as sick as you are, I don't wanna see you get killed."

"I don't intend to." He chuckled, "I came to get your ass."

"I can't leave now." I replied incredulously, "I have to go back."

"What?" He laughed, "Why?"

"Because I got them into this mess." I answered, "It's my fault-"

"You're coming with me." He replied, incredulous himself. My thoughts worked a thousand miles a minute then. What would he like to hear? What would appeal to him most? How could I get out of leaving with him, despite wanting nothing more, if he was so insistent on taking me? How could I tell him I wanted to stay without him getting violent at me?

Leandra's words describing him turned my stomach, and I knew I had to be careful now. He was standing there, right within reach of me, and I knew I had to make it appeal to him to let me stay somehow.

"Look at it this way." I muttered, "If I stay, then they'll take out Omar and his pack of dumb-shits for us. If they're gonna use me, I'm gonna use them right back." I hated putting it that way. It bothered me how much it bothered me to say those words.

He grinned.

"I knew I raised you right." He finally replied, "Without those fuckers around, it'll be a breeze to start over." It'd worked.

"Exactly." I told him, "But I have to get back, before they come looking. So just.. I don't know. Go hide in a cave somewhere until I come get you."

"I wasn't fucking born yesterday, stupid ass." He grumbled, and I grew nervous for a moment. Until he continued, "Like I'm gonna let you go play war while I'm hiding in a goddamn cave."

"Well, what do we do then?" I shrugged, "They'll kill you on sight."

"No they won't." He chuckled, "Trust me." He strode forward, and grabbed my arm. Tugging me forward with him, "They need me." He was staying too? That was definitely something I hadn't counted on.

"How the fuck do they need you?"

"There are ten others to Omar's coven." He replied, "I know where they are, and what they can do. They need me, and you? You're gonna be my little ice breaker, but if you want to do this whole using them right back thing right, you gotta act like this is all my idea. They'll help you that way. Then, when everything's settled, you tell them sayonara, and we split."

I stayed quiet as he dragged me along, trying to keep up with his pace, but the deep snow slowed me down a bit.

"Got that?" He snapped.

"I got it." I snapped in return, "Damn."

We got back to the house, only to find Eli outside waiting for me.

"Where the hell have you been?" He demanded at me, "And who the fu- Oh shit." He seemed to understand instantly who the man was beside me, holding me in his grip. Eli's confused expression dropping a few thousand notches to something that had to border fear. My dad grinned, obviously enjoying his reaction immensely. Eli took a step back, looking to me. I told him silently that I was sorry. I'd tried to get him to leave, but that didn't quite work out that well.

"Don't just stand there, boy." Dad snapped, making him jump, "Go get the others. I've got something to say." Immediately, Eli turned right around, and was back in the house. I went to follow him, but my dad grabbed the back of my neck.

"Ow!" I snapped up at him, trying to duck away.

"You stay your ass right here." He told me, "If you're here, they'll think twice about instantly killing me. Now move." He urged me forward. Closer to the house, just as they all started to come outside ahead of us.

He stopped us, facing them. I could read it in their expressions. A few were torn, unable to believe I'd do this to them, but the others were worried for me. Emmett just looked pissed, his gaze right on my dad. I couldn't blame him.

"Awesome job, guys." My dad spoke first, "Nice mix-up."

"You can let go now." I growled over at him, and he chuckled, but did as I said.

"What do you want?" Dess was less pleased to see him than Emmett was, which was weird.

"I think you know what I came for." He replied sarcastically, "Although, I'm not too sure you're capable of comprehending-"

"Cut the shit." Emmett snapped, and even I paused a second.

"Oh." My dad was amused, "Hostility."

"Dad." I muttered, "Come on. Just say what you gotta say."

"Listen up." He took my advice, "First things first. I didn't send those fuckwads after you."

"Like we're supposed to believe-"

"Shut the fuck up." He barked, shutting Emmett up, "I'm talking. I didn't send Omar here. I would rather have avoided him the rest of my days if I could, so why the fuck would I hunt his ass down and ask him 'pretty please' for a goddamn favor?"

"Omar took the coven from him. He didn't leave them." I explained, receiving a very convincing slap to the back of the head, "Ow!"

"You shut the fuck up too." He barked at me. He looked to them again, "Second, I'm not going anywhere. This little bitch has chosen to stay. For whatever reason, she doesn't want to leave your pathetic asses behind, and that's fine. Whatever. I'm cool with that, but I'm not letting her face your shit alone.

"The only reason they want her, is because she's mine. He doesn't know I'm here, and I didn't even know he was here until Alex said something. That gives us an opportunity, doesn't it? You got her into your shit, so you're going to get us out of it. Can you handle that?"

"Hell no." Emmett replied, "Like we're gonna-"

"Emmett." Esme shut him up.

"Okay." My dad sighed, shrugging a little, "I suppose you don't want to know where the rest of them are." He reached over, grabbing my arm as he turned, "Come on."

"Wait." Eli was the one to call out this time, "The rest of them?"

My dad hid his grin very well as he turned back around to face them, "The rest. You really think that's all Omar's got? You're kidding yourselves. If you do this right, you could take them all out before they even know you're coming. Wait enough time, the rest of you are completely fucked when they figure out they can pounce."

"Where are they?" Eli asked.

"I'm staying." Dad replied evenly, "No consequences, no retaliation. Quid pro quo. I help the rest of you all stay alive, if I leave here without a fucking problem. If you can't agree to that-"

"Agreed." Dess spoke up, which gained everyone's attention.

"Great." My dad muttered, smiling confidently, "Let's all go inside, shall we?" He took my neck again, lighter this time and steered me forward. I could just begin to see where he was going with this, and I hated it.

Emmett growled deeply as we passed him, and I didn't need to look over to feel his glare on us. Through the door, and into the house.

He grinned as they followed us in, "Cozy."

"Dad," I muttered, "Do you have to be such an asshole?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" He barked at me.

"I mean can't you just tell them where they are, and go?"

"Not without you, my darling." He chuckled, hugging me tight to his side, "You wanted to stay, right? Well, we're staying. You got your wish." He hugged me tighter, and I growled a little, "Besides. I've been pretty damn pleasant to these fuckers."

I looked down before turning my apologetic gaze to Esme, Emmett beside her. I honestly hadn't meant for this to happen, but now I had to figure out a way to fix this. How was I going to get him to leave here without me, when I was so sure the longer he stayed with me, the less I'd want him to leave here without me?

A/N: It's so short! I know. I apologize for that, but hey. I managed to update! Yay!
I know it's taken me forever to update, but I swear I had a good reason. Forgive me?
THANK YOU to my AWESOME, AMAZING, ASTOUNDING, other 'A' words reviewers! THANK YOOOU!
I won't try to give an estimate on Eight, but I promise to do my best.
Until Eight, my friends! :D