Chapter 81

Carmen and Eleazar knocked on the Cullens' door just as Alice opened it. She had sensed they were coming, and hadn't seen it until they were close by. She hadn't been keeping tabs on the couple, and Edward hadn't heard their thoughts becoming increasingly clear until after Alice's announcement that they would be paying the family a visit.

Carlisle and Esme stood waiting for the message of their old friends.

"Eleazar, Carmen," Carlisle started, greeting them both, "What brings you to our parts?"

They looked at each other, and concern began to fill Carlisle and Esme's heads.

"What is it?" Carlisle asked.

"We're here for two reasons," Eleazar explained, "One - to support you. Two - to see if the rumors are true."

Esme looked at Carlisle and clutched his arm.

Eleazar looked to Carmen and nodded before she began to speak, "Well, we'd like to know.. have you two conceived a child?"

Carlisle looked at them and decided to be upfront and honest, "Yes."

They seemed to be waiting for a more in depth answer, but when Carlisle didn't elaborate, they decided to continue with the questions. "How?" Carmen asked, "How is that possible?"

Esme could see both hope and fear in her friend's eyes. "We.. we had no idea that it was," Esme explained for what she felt was the thousandth time over the last year, "It just sort of... happened."

Eleazar looked at Carlisle, "Naturally? The way humans would?"

He nodded, "With a little extra help from the eclipse."

"The eclipse?" Carmen asked.

"What we came to find out later, was that on the night of a total lunar eclipse, the possibilty to have a child exists. It's not a certainty, but as I've said, a possibility."

"Is it as simple as it sounds?" Carmen asked, leaning against Eleazar.

Carlisle and Esme looked at each other, then back to their friends, "Well, it's not a perfect science," Esme explained, "There is one more piece of the puzzle you have to incorporate."

"What's that?" Eleazar asked.

"Someone has to wish for it for you during the eclipse... at the right time."

"Besides the two of you," Carlisle added.

They both nodded. Carmen looked happy, and Eleazar thoughtful.

"Is there something else?" Carlisle asked, sensing there was, "And how do you know?"

The couple looked at each other, "We heard from other vampires, but it descended from Aro," Eleazar explained, "He doesn't seem like he's in favor, and has been particular in emphasizing that to other vampires. When we heard it, we knew it couldn't have been anything bad, knowing your family."

"Our son doesn't crave human blood, only animal blood. He's never been a threat and he's grown very rapidly over the last year."

"How old is he?" Carmen asked, "What's his name?"

"His name's Masen," Esme told her, "And he's just about a year old."

They nodded again.

"He looks like he's close to twenty already," Carlisle explained.

Their eyes lit up, "So he grows that much. It's amazing he grows at all."

"We've been learning about this day by day," Esme said, "He's grown at a more rapid pace than Renesme."

"When will he stop?" Carmen asked, her face filled with curiosity.

Carlisle looked at Esme, then back to them, "We're not sure, but we're hoping around now."

"What is it that Aro's been saying?" Esme asked, concerned.

"We haven't spoken directly with him," Eleazar told them, "But from the words of others, he is trying to make it seem like you've been.. experimenting with it and it's becoming a danger to us all."

"Masen is not a danger," Esme said defensively, "And no one else has a child, other than Edward and Bella, and everyone knows about that," then added, "Aro was able to concieve a child himself."

Their eyes lit up. "We haven't heard that. Are you sure?" Eleazar asked.

Carlisle nodded, "It's true, but not with his mate."

"Why is this?" Carmen asked.

"He sent the woman who gave birth to his child here. She tried to attack us, and unfortunately, we had to destroy her, "Carlisle explained, "He sent her here to die, as we're all convinced anyway."

"So his mate Sulpicia would not find out," Esme told them.

"And his child," Eleazar asked, "Does it crave human blood?"

"From the visions Alice has had, yes." Carlisle said.

"I suppose our friends were left in the dark about Aro's child."

"If she continues to grow like our son," Carlisle told them, "He'll easily be able to deny it, as his wife has no knowledge of the child."

"Why would he say those things about Masen?" Esme asked aloud, to no one in particular.

"He sees your clan as a threat," Eleazar stated, "Everyone, whether involved in the last big meeting with them or not, knows that they were forced to back down to your family. From a mutual friend, if you can call it that, we found out that it didn't bother Aro at first, but when he heard of others talking of their let down, he became increasingly angry, and worried even."

Carlisle and Esme looked at each other again, neither with happy expressions.

"He's been brutal," Eleazar went on, "Supposedly sentencing vampires to death for petty faults and acting savagely as of late with Caius as his new moral compass."

"That would explain the attack," Esme said.

"What attack?" Carmen asked.

"Felix and Demetri," Carlisle said, "They came after me on my way home not too long ago."

Eleazar looked at his wife.

"What's wrong?" Esme asked.

"All we know, is that Aro wants nothing more than to show that they are the dominant coven. He may have others..." Eleazar's voice trailed off, and he looked deep in thought, "Was Aro's child a male or female?"

"He had a daughter," Esme told him.

The thoughtful expression lingered on his face, "I was told of an addition to their clan. A younger girl who has no scent and can block the scents of others. She's been able to perform sneak attacks for the Volturi because no one can sense they're near."

"So, you're saying there's no way to track her?" Carlisle asked.

"Correct," Eleazar stated, "And whoever she chooses to roam with. Their scents can be blocked also."

"I'd like to talk with Aro," Carlisle said, "Reason with him. We're not of a threat to him, or anyone. We have no desire to claim dominance."

"To put it in plain human terms," Carmen said, she looked at Eleazar, "We think Aro's jealous of all of you. He doesn't care if you bow down and let him stay at the top of our world. He wants to prove it himself."

"So you think they'll come for us?"

"I think they're planning something," Eleazar said, "I think they're trying to line up as many people as they can against you, the same way you all did to them."

Esme looked at Carlisle with worry and helplessness. He brought her to him and kissed her temple, "We'll be fine."

"We have your back," Eleazar assured them, "And we will pass the word to everyone that your family is not looking for a fight or a conflict. Anyone who knows you, knows this. But we will tell this to those who don't."

Masen walked into the room, having heard most of their conversation. Carmen and Eleazar both stared as he entered. Carlisle and Esme turned around.

"Is this your son?" Eleazar asked, stunned, "Well he must be. He looks a lot like you Carlisle."

"I can see you, too Esme. In his feather," Carmen added.

"Yes, this is our son Masen," Carlisle said, guiding Masen in front of him, who shook hands with the vampire couple. Both of them still looked astonished, having fully believed what Carlisle and Esme had told them, but seeing him for the first time was possibly the only way to believe it for themselves.

Carmen smiled wide, "Very nice to meet you Masen."

He nodded, "Nice to meet you both."

They both looked deeply into his golden eyes.

"I've heard that newborn vampires are all born with human blood in their veins and it's what they crave," Masen said, "I've never had the desire to taste human blood. I've only ever eaten animals. I've been around humans, and to be honest, they kind of gross me out."

"So your eyes," Carmen said, touching her own face, "They've always been like ours. Never red?"

He shook his head.

"He was born with golden eyes," Esme told them.

"My theory is that it's some sort of evolution," Carlisle said, "Esme and I have survived off animals for as long as either of us can remember. It's in our veins, and I'm thinking this is the reason."

Their friends still looked stunned.

"So if we were to be lucky enough to have a child of our own. There may be a good chance that it, too, could come into the world programed to survive on only animal blood?" Carmen asked.

"It's very possible," Carlisle told them, "But again, we're learning as we go. There are no definites yet."

"I can't see how anyone could possible see this as a bad thing," Carmen said, "I think vampires couples everywhere will want the same thing."

"Not all vampires are like us," Eleazar reminded her, "Some could come out of the womb with uncontrollable thirsts," he looked thoughtful again, "Which, if the girl that we've been told about is, indeed, Aro's daughter, it's a wonder that he was able to control her."

Carmen couldn't stop staring at Masen, "You're possibly the first ever of your kind," she told him, "Do you know how special you?"

He smiled shyly and looked down.

"He's definitely your boy," Eleazar laughed, picking up on his humble manorisms.

Carlisle smiled.

Eleazar pulled Carmen close, "Like we said, we have your back. If you need us for anything, or if a problem arises, we'll be here."

"Thank you," Carlisle and Esme said at the same time. They exchanged hugs and handshakes.

"I would keep an extra eye out. Have all of your family members ready with their gifts. Utilize them daily." Eleazar said.

"We will," Carlisle said, "Thank you for the information. And thank you for your understanding."