A/N: Sorry about the wait. i tried to upload this last Monday with no luck. I will be trying to update Searching every Monday until it's done.
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Bella's POV
When Edward and I arrived back at LaPush, almost everyone was gone. My dad was out with Jasper and Emmett, Athenodora was on her first vegetarian hunt with all the Denali's, except for Carmen and Eleazar and my sisters were in town helping Renee prepare for today. As soon as we arrived, the twins informed us that we had been gone too long and it was time to eat immediately. Arriel was not impressed to wake up and find me not at her complete disposal.
The girl had a lot of Rosalie's traits, and I'm not quite certain that it is a good thing! Once they had been fed, Carlisle and Esme went into town to lend a hand as well. Edward would join them with his brothers and the twins later. I was sad that I was unable to attend my father's service, but only barely, as he wasn't truly dead. Plus I was still uncertain if I wanted to see Renee. I had only caught a quick glimpse of her at Paul's funeral and that was more than enough.
Esme was kind enough to fill me in, let me know what was going on in my mother's life. She and Phil were expecting a baby. She had come to terms with the fact that I was gone. For that I was incredibly thankful.
After they were clean and fed, Carmen and Eleazar asked to visit with them. Eleazar was still trying to wrap his head around the scope of their gifts. He said that for all four of us, me, Charlie, Jace and Arriel, that he didn't have a full picture.
"What do you mean?" I asked, as he reiterated this comment.
"Let me explain my gift," Eleazar answered. "I look at a vampire, or a human for that matter, and I can see their talent. It is almost like it is written on a piece of paper in front of me."
"So you look at Edward and his paper says mind reader?" I asked, confused.
"Not quite. It is more in depth than that. I know what his power is now, and what it could be too," he said.
"What it could be?" Edward asked. "I was under the impression that it was what it was."
"Well that is wrong. As humans we only use a small portion of our brains. We don't truly expand on what we have. The same can be said for vampires."
"So you're saying that mind reading is only a small part of what I could do?" Edward asked.
"Indeed," Eleazar said. "Your full potential is untapped. You could truly be one of the most powerful vampires, if you ever expanded on your talent the way Aro has."
"So I see what people are currently thinking because that's all I've tried to?" I asked. "Are you saying I could be like Aro? I could see everything?"
"Yes," Eleazar said. "Without the need to touch a person."
"Could I also learn to turn it off? To choose who to hear and who not to?" he asked quietly, almost as though he was afraid of the answer.
"It is certainly possible, but you would need to work very hard to attain those abilities," Eleazar said.
I could see Edward coming to terms with this information. To be able to shut people out was one of his dreams. Not to have to hear other's thoughts all the time would be an incredible gift. Could it really be true? Could he attain his heart's desire?
"But I believe your mate and children, have more potential still. While we are stuck in a state of almost stasis, they can change," he said.
"What do you mean?" Edward asked, concerned.
"Your son's venom is different that ours, of that I'm certain. I am certain the babies will change physically. In fact they already have," he said.
"Yes, they are part human. We expect them to grow," Edward said.
"But your mate is not in quite the same stasis as we are, nor are the twins," he said.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Edward asked. "Are they immortal? Or is this just a tease and I will lose them at some point?"
He was angry now, and I was confused. I realized that I was different than the others. Blushing, crying and milk producing were all definite giveaways, but I never dreamed that I would have a different outcome than others or that the twins would. As I sat staring at Eleazar, I couldn't believe that it was something I had never thought of.
"I am not certain about the twins. I am sorry that I cannot say for sure. I believe they will get to a point and stop aging, but I'm not certain. Perhaps Aro has more information... But I am certain that Isabella will not age. It is something very obvious to our eyes. A week produces changes in humans, heck a day does, but Carlisle says he has not noticed any signs of aging," Carlisle said.
"But I can change... So I won't be a lactating vampire forever?" I asked, finally letting that fear out.
"I am certain that you will adapt when it is no longer necessary," Eleazar said.
"But I'll be stuck blushing and crying forever?" I asked, quite perturbed that I would be different.
"That is my belief," he said.
"And you said our powers are different. The babies and mine?" I asked.
"This is where my readings were different than I usually get. Instead of knowing what your powers are now and how strong they could be, there is no limit," he stated.
"No limit? So Bella is a mental shield, are you saying she could develop a physical shield, or more along the lines of being able to shield multiple people?" Edward asked.
"Both," Eleazar said. "And probably relatively easily, as these things go, anyways."
"So how do I do it?" I asked. "How do I boost my power so that I can shield others?"
"We'll have Kate work with you when she gets back with Charlie. You should be able to master it quite quickly," Eleazar said.
"So how is their power different when you see it? You told us what you see for vampires, what is different Bella and the babies?" Edward asked.
"And Charlie," Eleazar said.
"Okay, and Charlie?" Edward asked.
"Every vampire has the ability to train their power, to make it stronger, but there is a limit... Bella, Charlie and the babies have no limit," Eleazar said.
"So what you're saying is that their power could grow exponentially?" Edward asked.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"For example, Aro has reached the limit of his power. He can see all of a person's thoughts through touch, however, he couldn't see anything without. He never will be able to. Edward can hear what passes through someone's mind, in fact he has to, however if he trained himself he could hear all thoughts as Aro does," he said.
"Through touch?" I asked.
"Probably initially, but eventually he could do so at will. And shut it down at will," Eleazar said. "But it will still have a limit. Proximity for one. The closer he is to someone, distance wise, the more he will hear."
"But Jace's power and Arriel's will be limitless?" I asked. Edward was stuck in a contemplative stance.
"And yours and Charlie's too," he said.
"So since Jace can copy and delete powers, then what does that mean for him?" I asked.
"His power is truly limitless," Eleazar said quietly. "As I said before, your family will be infinitely more powerful than the Volturi, and when they find out, and they will be gunning for all of you."
"Does Carlisle know?" Edward asked softly as I digested the fact that there would be more sadistic vampires hunting us down.
"Yes," Eleazar said. "We talked about it last night and he wanted me to talk to you. His fear is that Aro will come visit soon. And I agree... They want Athenodora and the shield returned to them. Yet she knows our secrets just as surely as she knows theirs, plus she does not wish to return nor does Mathilda. She wishes to remain with her mistress."
"So what do you suggest?" Edward asked, pinching the bridge of his nose and I felt myself wondering if I was ever going to get my happily ever after.
"Well. You and the babies need to go to the funeral. You are expected. Bella will remain here as too many people will be looking at her, knowing that Charlie's death was the thing that would be most likely to bring her back to Forks. Her strange disappearance is still that, and you know how small town gossip works," he said.
"I need to be with her. The last funeral was enough. I can't be separated from them again," Edward said.
I snuggled into his side in response. I didn't like it anymore than he did.
"You need to bring that up with Carlisle. Maybe he can come up with a reason for you to avoid the funeral," Eleazar said.
"Thank you, Eleazar," Edward said before excusing himself to call Carlisle. I saw him head for the beach, apparently he was anticipating an argument and didn't want us to hear.
"How do I train my shield?" I asked.
"If danger is coming I need to know how," I said to him.
"That is what I was hoping you'd say," Eleazar said with a grin. "Kate and Charlie will be back shortly, and then we'll begin."
I nodded my agreement and went to spend some time with the babies. I was pretty certain Edward wouldn't win this argument. Ten minutes later, my theory was proven correct and I helped Edward pack the twins up in the car. After they were loaded, Edward pulled me into his arms, holding me close. I spent the time, holding him, almost memorizing his touch. We would only be separated for a few hours at most, but it was more than either of us were comfortable with.
"Keep them safe," I whispered to him as I saw Emmett and Jasper approaching.
"I will," he whispered back. "You stay close to Eleazar. Call me if you need me. I'll be here as quickly as I can, even if I have to run vampire speed out of there.
"I promise," I said, kissing his lips softly.
Emmett interrupted with a wolf whistle, which earned him a glare and a growl from my husband. I just blushed.
They loaded into the car with the twins and I watched in awe as Edward took the seat between our children, willingly giving up the driving to Jasper. I smiled, knowing that he would protect them with all that he was and I turned to go into the house and find Eleazar. I was ready to start practicing now.
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Laurent's POV
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Floating. That's what was happening. I was floating. I could feel a presence beside me and I knew it was Irina.
Irina. Four hundred years I have roamed the world, and never had I met anyone like her. Her very essence called to me. Just holding her hand finally made me feel like I had a home.
Not four walls and a roof, that's a house, but a home, a place where I truly belonged. So I sacrificed, not that it was hard to do, I gave up my natural food source in favor of animals. Not an extremely mouthwatering substitution, but as long as I stuck to the carnivores I was fine.
It was strange. The last thing I was aware of was being in the battle and ....Wait! Was I dead? I began to panic, thinking about the unfairness of the situation. I had just found Irina and now I was without her. I wondered where I was, if I had a consciousness, I must be alive, at least my soul was. Was I in heaven? Hell? Purgatory?
I struggled to feel something. Anything! But there was just nothing. I tried to listen for a sound but there was nothing. Silence and darkness surrounded me and I have never been more uncomfortable in my life. I spent more than four hundred years as a vampire, my senses were all heightened and lethal. I could hear a pin drop from another room. I could see for miles, even through the fog. I could feel someone breath ten feet away. I could smell... But those were gone. Replaced with nothingness.
What remained?
Would I be stuck here in this limbo forever?
The darkness surrounding me was torture. I don't know how long I was there, but it was enough time for me to see the wring I had done. I had taken lives, human lives without thought or care. People who had loved ones, mothers, fathers, children. It had not mattered. The world owed me.
How wrong I was. In my darkness, with my perfect recollection I saw every face, I heard every scream, I even felt the soothing sensation of their blood in my throat. I hated it.
In my mind I apologized for every life I had taken, most not humanely. I vowed that I would never take another innocent life. Then my memory shifted to Irina. Seeing her for the first time, touching her hand... Everything. Had I ever told her I loved her? Did she know?
I pulled every memory I had with her. The innocent, the intimate, the angry and the last, over and over until I couldn't distinguish where one ended and another began. I floated in my dark prison, my mind on the angel who had stolen my heart.
It could have been seconds. It could have been years... The darkness around me softened ever so slightly and I saw a small beam of light. I pinprick, no more than that, but it called to me. I guided myself towards the light, angling my eyes towards it. I could feel myself getting closer and the light got bigger the closer I got.
The light was white, but not white. Every color I had ever seen was present within the light and it warmed my very core. As soon as the light was big enough for my body to fit into I knew, I knew that once I entered, I could never leave. I stood there, for what felt like hours, before I slowly moved away.
I pushed my body away from the light until not a trace remained. I concentrated on feeling my body, anything. But as hard as I tried there was nothing. I wanted to feel something, frustrated I continued to try to sense any part of my body. My head... My chest... My legs... My feet... Hands... Pinky finger!
Did I just move it?
I tried again.
I feel it. I moved my finger.
The darkness enveloped me again and I felt my consciousness fading. I moved. I know I did. Irina....
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Irina POV
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"Laurent!" I cried.
He moved I had seen it. Only his finger but it was the first sign of anything in days.
Carmen and Eleazar ran into the room with Bella, Edward's new mate.
"What is it?" Eleazar asked.
"He moved," I said, stunned.
"Where?" Eleazar asked as he looked at my frozen mate.
"His finger," I said, relief filling every pore.
Eleazar looked at him. I could see that he was questioning it. Wondering if I had really seen him move or if it was just wishful thinking.
I picked up the hand that had wiggled the finger. The skin had knit itself together perfectly and there was nothing different with the way Laurent looked, except for a new bite scar at the joint of his neck and shoulder. He smelled the same too. His body still called to mine as it had since I met him... But he was silent and still.
"Irina..." Eleazar said, but stopped.
I knew what I had seen. Laurent had moved. He was coming back to me.
"Please, Baby," I begged Laurent. "Please show them."
There was nothing and I felt my eyes fill with the venom tears that wouldn't fall. How I wished for Bella's ability to cry.
"Do you want to see what Arriel can see?" she asked softly. "We can ask her when she gets back."
Did I?
Honestly it wasn't an easy question. Bella and Edward were very selective about what they allowed Arriel to be used for. They didn't want to tax the baby and I understood that. But did I really want to know the answer?
I did, if it was positive, but I wasn't ready to give up hope. I needed him, more than I had ever needed anything. I was over a thousand years old, and other than my family, I have never wanted or needed anybody or anything.
Was I ready to face the truth, whatever it was.
"I don't know," I said.
Nobody said anything.
"Please just wiggle again for me, Laurent. If you do then we will ask Arriel when you will wake up...." I said trailing off.
I stroked the little finger of his hand which had twitched for me before.
"Please?" I begged.
Slowly but surely the little finger on his hand moved. Not the minute movement that he had made before, but a full wiggle.
"Did you see that?" I asked, looking at the other vampires in the room.
"I did," squealed Bella. "He moved. He really moved!"
"Praise the Lord!" Eleazar said, as Carmen grinned at me .
"Can we ask her when they get back?" I asked, excited for the first time since my mate had been struck down.
"Yes," Bella said.
"Hold on," I said to Laurent. "You will come back to me soon. I know it. I love you!"
I smiled up at Eleazar, who was sporting a grin on his face.
"Irina," he said. "You need to hunt. Your eyes are black as pitch..."
I started to argue. I couldn't leave him. What if he needed me?
"... and you will need some thermoses of blood for Laurent when he wakes. He will likely be too weak to hunt for himself and we are too near humans for it to be safe," he continued.
"Yes, Eleazar," I said with a smile. Smart man! He knew I couldn't argue when I could help Laurent.
"I will accompany you, Dear," Carmen added, her slight Spanish accent coming out loud and clear.
"Thank you," I responded.
Bella stood next to Eleazar, smiling at me. I could see hope in all their eyes. A hope that I knew was nearly gone after all this time. I never gave up on him, I never would.
I heard the door open and close downstairs and the scents of my sisters wafted up the stairs.
I grinned from ear to ear, eager to tell my sisters about Laurent's progress. I leapt from my place and kissed Laurent's still lips.
"I will return soon my Love. I will hunt us a bear... I know that's your favorite," I said. "I love you!"
With that I ran down the stairs to see my sisters, maybe Tanya would come hunting with me, I know Eleazar had plans to use Kate to help Bella learn to project her shield.
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Bella's POV
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When Charlie returned he was holding hands with Athenodora. To say I was shocked would be an understatement, but when I saw the way that they looked at each other, there was nothing I was willing to do to take that away from him. It seemed he was settling into vampire life a lot quicker and easier than I had ever imagined.
"So Charlie...." Eleazar said, staring pointedly at the clasped hands that joined my father to the vampire queen that we had just met under not so ideal circumstances just days ago.
"So what?" Charlie bristled. "We're not doing anything wrong!"
"Never said you were," Eleazar said.
"He's just trying to give us a bit of a hard time Charlie," Athenodora said. "It's in his nature to be an ass."
I couldn't help but to giggle at Eleazar's shocked expression.
"What's so funny?" Charlie asked.
"I don't think I have heard the lady utter more than a few words during in all my life," he said.
"And Eleazar used to be a member of the Volturi guard," Kate supplied.
"The wives were to be seen and not heard," Athenodora said. "I certainly hope that is not what is expected of me here."
"No," Charlie said, before anyone else could. "I like hearing you. If anyone has a problem with that, then they can take it up with me."
"No problem," Eleazar said. "I was honestly just surprised. I guess I shouldn't have been. I know what control Aro insisted upon with the rest of us."
"Indeed," she said.
Eleazar just smiled at her.
"You don't have an issue with this, do you Kid?" Charlie asked me.
"Heavens no!" I replied. "I'm happy that you have someone you want to spend time with."
I turned to look at Athenodora and smiled.
"Athenodora, I know we have seen each other in passing but we haven't been formally introduced. I'm sorry if my behavior was less than welcoming... It has been a stressful time," I said to her.
"No problem, Isabella," she replied. "Please call me Dora. I have been thrilled to watch you and your mate with your children. There is so much love. You are very controlled, I was stunned to learn that you were, in fact, a newborn."
"Thank you, Dora," I replied. "Please call me Bella."
"Thank you, Bella," she said.
Charlie, the man of few words that he remained, just smiled and squeezed Dora's hand.
"So Charlie," Eleazar began. "Bella wants to learn how to project her shield and I was hoping you could help her."
"Always," Charlie said. "What do I need to do?"
"Well, Kate here, has a shocking gift. Something akin to a human getting an electric shock. The strength varies from a light zap to ... Well, a lot more," he said.
"No," I replied. "You are not going to cause my father pain so that I can learn. I won't allow it!"
"Bella, if it helps you out, a little pain would be worth it. I'm sure she'll keep it on low," he said.
"I will keep it low," Kate promised. "To start."
"I beg your pardon?" I asked her.
"I'm not trying to be mean Bella. If I keep it low, your incentive to work with your shield will be low... And then you won't be able to use it to protect your mate or children," she said.
I knew she was right but I didn't have to like it.
"First we need to check it on Bella," Eleazar said. "I am almost certain that she will feel nothing, but we need to be sure."
The other vampires seemed to think this exercise was immensely thrilling and sat back, ready to watch the show.
"So Bella," Eleazar said. "Hold out your hand."
I did as instructed and held out my hand. Kate grabbed my hand and looked into my eyes. After a moment she flinched and began to squeeze my hand a little as the look of concentration increased. After a while I was frustrated at the waste of time and let forth a burst of frustration, thinking that Jasper would surely have sensed, had he been here.
"Ow!" Kate said, dropping to her knees. "What the hell?"
"What?" I asked.
"What did you experience?" Eleazar asked her.
"I got zapped!" she exclaimed.
"Zapped?" he asked. "Impressive!"
"What?" I asked.
"Not only did you manage to shield yourself from Kate's gift," Eleazar said. "But you managed to turn it back on her."
"Sorry," I said to Kate.
"Don't be. That was something! I have never experienced that first hand," she said. "It gives me a new appreciation."
She stood up and smiled at me.
"So did you feel what was different, when you did that?" Eleazar asked.
"I was frustrated. I couldn't feel anything and it felt like we were wasting time," I said. "So I pushed the frustration outwards."
"Good," Eleazar said with a smile. "Do it again!"
"Okay," I said, reaching for Kate.
"I'm keeping it on low this time," Kate said as she grabbed my hand.
I giggled at her a little and she smiled back.
I concentrated on pushing it away this time and Kate was instantly pushed back.
"Perfect," she said with a smile.
"Thanks," I said.
"What does it feel like when you push it away?" Eleazar asked.
"It almost feels as if I've got a second skin, and it can separate from my first. I guess it would be like... Blowing out a candle..." I said.
We practiced more, with Kate touching different areas. It seemed the closer she got to my core, the more intense the power reverberated off me. Finally after it became second nature, Eleazar nodded.
"That's very good!" Eleazar said. "I knew you would be a quick learner. Now I would like you to try to cover Charlie with your shield."
"Okay," I said.
I concentrated on moving my shield out, and I could see it as a faint shimmering shadow. Nobody else could see anything. I watched as it covered Charlie, grinning and nodding to Kate. Kate, guessing that my nod meant for her to try to shock Charlie, approached quickly and reached for his shoulder. I wasn't prepared for that quick of a movement and a spike of fear shot through my shield, sending Kate flying as she came in contact with it.
"What was that?" Charlie, Kate and I asked in unison.
"That was the physical aspect of your shield," Eleazar said, grinning like a cat that ate the canary.
"Do it again!" Kate commanded and we focused my ability to throw Kate back. It was as simple as physically pushing her. I smiled as I was able to control the force used to push her back.
"Great," Eleazar said, his eyes shining. He was just as much a scientist as Carlisle and loved watching what I was learning.
"Now," he said. "I would like you to allow Kate to touch Charlie, but not harm him with her gift."
We practiced that, and it was truly no different than just shielding myself. It was exhilarating, knowing that I could do more than protecting myself.
"Are you at all tired from this, Bella?" Eleazar asked.
"Nope," I responded.
"Kate, Charlie?" he asked.
"No," they both said in unison.
"Would you like to see how far you can extend it?" he asked.
"I'd love to," I said, thrilled with the possibility of defending not just my little family unit, but maybe my entire family.
The remaining vampires nodded their agreement and I covered everyone but Kate in my shield. It was like blowing up a balloon to include everyone inside. When we were all covered Kate was unable to shock anyone, until I included her under the shield, then anyone was fair game, except for me still.
Nearly three hours had passed since Edward and our children had left for Charlie's service. I realized that I wasn't at all worried about them and my mind had been occupied with learning all that Eleazar demanded. True to his word, it was easy and I couldn't wait to try it out with Edward when he returned with our children.
As I waited, I found myself wondering...
If I raised my shield over him, would he hear my thoughts?
Would he still be able to hear other's thoughts while under my shield?
Could I use my gift when it really counted or was this a question of practice and reality being completely different things?
Was there really danger on our horizon?