Chapter 2 - Matters of State

Chancellor Carlisle Cullen was a very busy man. He had numerous responsibilities as the leader of all vampires, especially given that the Populace was spread out over the globe. On many occasions, he wished to have more people on his staff, but that didn't mean he agreed with Jasper's suggestion.

"You know it's against the terms of the Treaty to create new vampires without establishing just cause. In my view, our current situation doesn't warrant such an action, and I can guarantee Secretary-General Madaki will feel the same way."

"It's not our current situation that I'm worried about," Jasper said, curling his hand into a tight fist. "All it takes is one disgruntled vampire to create another army of newborns, and then we have the Great War all over again."

"Oh, please," Rosalie said with a roll of her eyes. "Stop being so damned dramatic. A single vampire wouldn't be able to start another war. It took Caius, Jane, Alec, and how many others to form an army strong enough to fight us, and they still ended up losing. We can handle whatever issues come up without raising our numbers."

"Maybe, but at what cost?" Jasper clasped Alice's hand with a pained expression on his features. "More injuries? More loss?" His eyes hardened and shifted to Carlisle. "You're already responsible for her destruction. Do you want the same fate for us?"

A collective growl rumbled through the air, but it was Angela who sprang from her seat with her arms reaching for Jasper's throat. Alice, having seen the attack a split second before, was the one to intercept the leaping vampire, and Edward was right behind her.

Jasper snarled as he prepared to counterattack, but a stinging hand from Kate dropped him in in his tracks.

"Enough!"

Carlisle's voice was not overly loud, but the irrefutable authority in his command compelled everyone freeze in place.

"Return to your seats so that we can continue."

He fixed serious golden eyes on Angela that expressed his disappointment without the necessity of words. Her shoulders drooped, but she didn't hide her censure when she looked at Jasper.

"I'm sorry that I reacted so strongly, sir," she muttered to the Security Director. "But I won't put up with disrespect to the Chancellor."

The two vampires stared each other down for a long moment. Despite the considerable differences in age and experience, Angela did not wilt under Jasper's powerful glare. Finally, his head twitched downward ever so slightly and he turned to address the table.

"My apologies to you, sir, and to the rest of the staff." After Carlisle nodded his pardon, he continued. "That aside, I still believe we need to reevaluate the strength of our defensive forces. Unless we institute a draft or recruit enough volunteers for a standing militia, I don't see how…"

Edward dedicated a significant amount of his attention to Jasper's arguments. Part of his mind, however, contemplated Carlisle's dark-haired secretary. One of the many casualties of the Battle of Forks, Angela Webber was a young vampire, having spent just less than five years as an immortal. Although she and Edward shared the same physical age of 17, he was far past that volatile first decade when new vampires were getting used to their new life. Even level-headed Brady still had occasional fits of anger or depression.

But Angela's reaction to Jasper's insolence was more than just typical youthful behavior, Edward knew. The girl held Carlisle in high regard and even felt a physical attraction toward him. Her overall quiet, yet fiercely loyal personality served well to outwardly disguise her true interest, but a mind-reader had no problem seeing past that.

Edward hadn't said anything to either Angela or Carlisle, nor would he—unless her feelings became a problem. He didn't enjoy having a direct line to others' private thoughts and would certainly never exploit them without reason. However, his primary duty was to the Vampire Populace, and he would not shy away from fulfilling that, no matter how uncomfortable he might be.

Carlisle, for his part, had no idea that Angela felt a special affection for him. He was fond of her and especially grateful for her superior organizational skills. He was even beginning to care for her in the same way he loved all his "children." But he didn't have a romantic interest in her—he couldn't. He was far too broken for that.

"…agree. To summarize, Jasper will work with Liam to create a detailed security assessment. Alice's team will prepare a PR package and gauge public opinion on the creation of new vampires—if and only if increased threat warrants it." Carlisle calmly folded his hands in front of him. "I'll begin greasing the skids with the Assembly for the possibility of new legislature. Angela, schedule a meeting with President Marshall for end of this week. He'll need to be on our side before proceeding any further."

"It may have to be next week," she responded. "President Marshall leaves for Germany on Wednesday, and you won't return from Forks until the following day."

An unnatural silence fell over the already quiet library at the mention of the Cullens' previous town of residency. In two days, Carlisle would return there to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Battle of Forks, the "surprise" attack that marked the beginning of the Great War. Everyone in the room, excepting Brady, had been present that fateful day.

With an anguished groan, Edward dropped his head into hands, attempting too late to shield himself from the salvo of painful memories he saw in the minds of the others. His own were terrible enough, but when added to the collective…he could hardly bear it.

"That concludes our meeting today, everyone," Carlisle announced, seeing Edward's—and Jasper's—struggle to handle the overflow of emotion. "As always, thank you for your diligent work."

He rose to his feet, and the rest of the vampires followed. As he took a step away from the table, the atmosphere in the room lightened. Edward and Jasper exchanged relieved glances when their burdens eased.

A number of conversations broke out as the eight staff members in the room conducted business on a smaller scale. Kate touched base with Jasper and then left to track down Garrett. Rosalie, the head of Carlisle's personal security team, cleared up some last minute details with Angela about the Chancellor's trip to Forks. Alice and Brady were engaged in a discussion about a scheduled videoconference call with their European counterparts.

Edward, do you have a few minutes?

The Vice Chancellor looked to his superior and nodded. He would always make time for Carlisle.

Come for a walk with me.

The two men exited the library and began their descent down a narrow staircase. Jasper murmured into the microphone on his headset and followed at a respectable distance behind them. Upon reaching the ground floor, he departed their company for the surveillance room. He would keep watch over them from there.

The sky was a brilliant blue, and the highly manicured lawn around the manor house displayed a vibrant green shade. Bird song and insect sounds filled the air as the creatures made the most of the pleasant June weather. The vampires' ears could also pick up the noises of Canteen animals moving about in their spacious enclosures.

The Cullen Compound was situated within what used to be the Patuxent Research Refuge before the Great War. This 12,800 acre wildlife preserve, located 20 miles outside of Washington, D.C., had been established by Franklin Roosevelt but was now designated as sovereign territory of the Vampire Populace. Those twenty square miles, as well as the 97 square miles of Volterra in Tuscany, Italy, were the only regions of the world over which vampires claimed sole jurisdiction. There was Isle Esme off the coast of Brazil, acquired as a provision in the Treaty of Volterra, but it belonged only to the Cullen family.

Although Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, and Jasper took yearly vacations to the island, Carlisle and Edward had only returned once since peace was declared. Edward didn't have a reason, and Carlisle didn't have the desire.

Carlisle's thoughts flitted to the island for the briefest of moments and then considered other destinations as he walked alongside Edward through the gardens. His eldest son was due for a break, and he wanted to be prepared with a list of options when Edward protested, as the young man was sure to do. But first, he needed to address one of the significant causes of Edward's heightened stress.

Carlisle glanced out of the corner of his eye and pulled in a quick breath of air, even though he didn't intend to speak out loud.

Alice approached me today before the meeting. She's concerned about you.

Edward's gaze remained forward. He only grunted his acknowledgement.

She said that while Vogel's interrogation was successful, it wasn't worth the suffering you endured. I think it's time we reexamine—

"No," Edward interrupted, his tone curt. "The program can't be scaled back any further. The backlog in the U.S. was just cleared, but there are three more North American detainees awaiting interrogation dates and five from South America. Even the current schedule of one per week won't be sufficient if the incarceration rate stays about the same. There are just too many depraved people on this planet."

Carlisle held back a heavy sigh. Yes, but you're not responsible for bringing them all to justice. Edward, you can't keep going like this forever.

"Actually, I can…vampire, remember?" His tone was scathingly bitter.

Maybe your body can heal itself, but your mind is a different situation. You're subjecting yourself to mental torture, and it will wear you down over time. There's no reason for you to—

"The woman is reason enough. And Alice…"

"You need to let go of this, Edward!" Carlisle's frustration caused him to speak aloud. "What happened with Alice was not your fault, and the woman…it was a slip of control in the worst of conditions. The vast amount of flowing blood was a temptation to everyone, and you were caught off-guard by the scent of your singer. I can't imagine any vampire would be able to resist that."

Edward stopped in front of a stone fountain and stared at the pool of water in the basin. "Maybe, maybe not," he said quietly. "Regardless, my feelings won't change. It's useless to try, and I wish you wouldn't. I don't—"

He stopped his sentence short, but Carlisle didn't realize, thinking the younger vampire was finished speaking.

I have to keep trying because I care about you—we all do. And it is for this reason that I've made a decision. When I return from the memorial ceremony, you will take at least a week of vacation time. Brady will confer with Angela to clear your schedule. Also, I'm going to have the three North American detainees transferred to Volterra. Aro and Maggie can conduct the interrogations. I won't entertain any argument on the subject.

Edward's shoulders slumped in defeat, but he nodded. Carlisle was about to suggest they go for a run to take their minds off work when he registered a faint rustling noise. His mouth turned up in a grin as the sound grew louder and more distinct. He turned his head toward the tree line, watching in amusement as a large, sand-colored wolf burst through the underbrush and skidded to a halt on the lawn. His sides heaving and his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth, the animal blinked at Edward in silent conversation.

"Yeah, right. Keep on dreaming, pup," Edward said with a laugh. He turned to Carlisle. "Apparently, Seth thinks he's gotten faster since last week. Would you excuse me please while I take him down?"

"Go to it." Carlisle was thrilled to see a rare smile on his son's face. Of course, if anyone could make that happen, it would be Seth Clearwater. The teen's easy-going personality and infectious enthusiasm never failed to brighten the mood of those around him. He even managed to bring out the youthfulness in Edward. The unlikely pair had formed a close bond when they saved each other's lives during the Battle of Forks.

Carlisle was deeply thankful that Seth, his older sister Leah, and a young Quileute named Caleb had decided to join the Cullens on the Reserve. Seth considered them family, and although Leah was not fond of vampires in general, she enjoyed leading her own pack far away from the politics and drama of her native tribe. Caleb, a close friend of Seth's, had a heightened awareness of the thoughts of animals. Because of this, he shared an unlikely similarity with the Cullens. Just as they chose a blood source alternative to their natural diet, Caleb abstained from eating like his wolf kin. He was a vegetarian in the true sense of the word.

The pack's main duty was to serve as additional security for the Reserve and Compound. Under Caleb's direction, they also kept track of the wildlife population and oversaw the care of animals rotated through the large Canteen enclosures. The vampires living on the Compound rarely drained their prey, and if they did, it was to cull sick animals or overabundant species. Vampires found it terribly difficult to leave an animal alive during a feeding, but the payoff of their control was worth it when they were able to feed from larger predators more often.

Carlisle could smell the scent of whitetail deer blood on Seth and knew that he had come back from hunting. Left unchecked, the deer population multiplied quickly, so they were the go-to choice when residents desired to finish off their prey.

Seth was full of spirit and sprang at Edward as the vampire neared. The two wrestled for a few minutes until Seth twisted out of Edward's grasp and bolted toward the trees. Edward's cry of "cheater!" followed the wolf as he took off after him.

Chuckling to himself, Carlisle jogged over to the pile of shoes and work clothes that his son had left behind. He neatly folded the trio of suit jacket, pants, and shirt and laid them on a nearby bench, along with the hastily discarded shoes. He knew that Edward wouldn't care about the condition of the clothes when he put them back on after the run, but Carlisle enjoyed performing "fatherly" duties whenever he could.

Besides, he really didn't want to hear another rant from Alice about how bespoke Brioni suits should be treated with respect. Enduring that particular brand of torture once in his immortal life was more than enough for him.

-v-v-v-v-v-v-

The mood inside the limo was somber as the vehicle approached the town limits of Forks. The countryside still bore marks of destruction from the battle, even five years later. Between patched-up storefronts and buildings bearing swaths of mismatched paint, blackened hulls that used to be family residences remained as memorials to those who had either perished in the fighting or had decided to start again elsewhere.

Carlisle's hands curled into fists in his lap as he struggled to contain his grief. In many ways, the devastation brought upon this town was his fault. He had chosen to bring the family back to Forks, and in doing so, doomed the residents to their fate as collateral damage. Victoria and Riley's newborn army, secretly backed by Caius, sought to destroy the Cullens, and although Carlisle tried his best to cut them off outside of town, the plan had failed in spectacular fashion.

Rosalie stretched out an arm and took one of his hands in her own. She'd stepped into the maternal role for the family —though her style tended more toward tough love than Esme's gentle understanding. When it came to Carlisle, however, Rosalie could only show sympathy and compassion.

His richly golden eyes met hers as he acknowledged her support, and then he returned his attention to the scarred townscape. The limo rolled past two motels and onward to the shared campus of Forks' three public schools. The first car in the convoy pulled onto a grass field next to a large canopy tent, and the other vehicles followed suit.

A man in a black suit climbed out of the leading Suburban and looked around. The next person out was a tall, trim woman with sharp blue eyes and slightly graying blond hair. Her navy pinstripe pantsuit was obviously expensive and tailored to fit her body. Carlisle had no idea what brand it was, but he'd absorbed enough over the years to know that Alice would have approved.

The Vice President of the United States took a moment to gather her bearings. When she spotted Carlisle stepping out of the limo, her face broke into a smile.

Flanked by her assistant and two Secret Service agents, she strode toward the gathering group of vampires.

"Carlisle!" She didn't hesitate to give him a warm yet professionally appropriate half-hug.

"Hello, Sydney. It's wonderful to see you again. How was your trip?"

"Long. I was in Florida kissing the asses of wealthy campaign contributors. Gotta love the year before an election." She nodded her head toward a small gathering of people under the tent. "Shall we?"

Automatically, Carlisle looked to the head of his security team. Rosalie took her role very seriously and had admonished him often during his early days as Chancellor. Though he thought it wholly unnecessary to be under the protection of one vampire—much less four—Jasper insisted upon a dedicated security detail. The rest of his staff had agreed, especially Angela, who pointed out that the presence of a full entourage would also support his public image as a legitimate head of state.

Eventually, he'd come to accept the constant hovering of Rosalie and her team, consisting of Emmett, Tanya, and Demetri. For the trip to Forks, Emmett and Demetri had arrived several hours ahead of the main group to scout out the location for possible threats. Carlisle knew full well that they spent only a handful of minutes in Forks and the rest of the time hunting for fun in the surrounding forest. Rosalie had grumbled quite a bit, but Carlisle didn't blame the boys at all. In fact, he was looking forward to doing the same after the events of the day concluded.

It was a pleasant afternoon in Forks—warm but not hot, with patches of fluffy white clouds in the sky. Carlisle noted the faint iridescent sheen of Rosalie's skin in the filtered sunlight as she conferred with three local law enforcement personnel. After centuries of hiding in the shadows around humans, he found it remarkable to walk so freely among them now. When one considered how much supernatural had been thrust upon them in such a brief time period, it was rather impressive how accepting the majority of the population had been.

One man in Rosalie's group kept up a constant survey of his surroundings, even as he participated in the conversation at hand. Carlisle recognized him as the Forks Chief of Police, Roger Davis. The stocky man had been the Chief Deputy when the Battle of Forks occurred. His superior, Charles Swan, was among the first killed when the newborn army descended upon the town. Carlisle had worked with Davis in organizing medical support for the wounded during the aftermath. The man's twitchy, restless demeanor was polar opposite of the ever-stoic Chief Swan, but he did an admirable job stepping into the duties of Chief, regardless.

A small group of people, led by the mayor of Forks, walked out from under the tent to greet the Chancellor and Vice President. Under Rosalie, Tanya, and the Secret Service agents' watchful eyes, the two dignitaries chatted with various residents of the region. Carlisle knew many of them personally from his days as one of the town doctors.

The ceremony itself didn't last very long. The program struck a careful balance between solemn remembrance and hopeful determination. Despite the delicate approach to the subject matter, emotions ran high among the crowd. Muffled sobs and quiet sniffles punctuated the speakers' presentations as attendees mourned what was lost. Carlisle understood the feelings all too well. He sat with his head bowed and his jaw tightly clenched. Every so often, his hand passed across his eyes as if to wipe away tears that could never fall.

At the ceremony's conclusion, he and Sydney stood in receiving lines to shake hands and meet more of the area's residents. It did not escape his notice that a number of people chose only to wait in the Vice President's queue. Some even shot hostile glares toward him and the members of his security team.

It was to be expected, especially in Forks, Carlisle thought sadly. The presence of vampires in town no doubt amplified unresolved feelings of resentment and even outright hate. It didn't matter to some that the Cullens had been essential in turning back the newborns that day—or later in ending the war as a whole. Those people regarded all vampires as evil creatures who should not be allowed to exist. What dismayed Carlisle most was that they had looked on him kindly when they knew him only as a doctor. Some were people he had even considered as friends.

The sun was halfway between its apex and the horizon when Rosalie interrupted a conversation between the Chancellor and the manager of the local Thriftway.

"Excuse me, sir. It's time to leave for La Push. Our escorts will be waiting at the rendezvous point soon."

The Vice President's Deputy Assistant murmured something similar in Sydney's ear. After goodbyes were exchanged, the dignitaries and their entourages climbed into their vehicles, and the motorcade proceeded to the Quileute Reservation.

A number of people in both human and wolf form were gathered at the old treaty line demarcating the boundaries to the Reservation. The Cullen "territory" had been disestablished several years ago, but the Quileutes still did not allow vampires free passage inside their borders.

Councilwoman Sue Clearwater was the first to come forward to greet Carlisle and Sydney. She was considered the unofficial liaison between Quileutes and Cullens; her two children lived with them, after all. Sue wasn't particularly enamored with Leah and Seth's choice, but she tried to make the best of the situation and her unique position within the tribe.

"Hello, Carlisle. Welcome back," she said quietly, then turned to Sydney. "Greetings, Madam Vice President. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Likewise. I admire the work you did helping to draft the Global Security Council Charter. It's a fine piece of legislation. If you ever change your mind about coming to D.C…."

"You'll be the first person I inform," Sue said, giving her an indulgent smile. "Now, if everyone is ready, Head Councilman Ateara has assembled the rest of the tribe at First Beach."

Sydney returned to her Suburban with the two Secret Service agents and her Deputy Assistant. Sue gestured to an old Jeep and waited for Carlisle to join her. He nodded and prepared to cross the treaty line, but Rosalie took a step in front of him before he could do so. Her eyes were narrowed in discontent.

"Just one of us, that's all I'm asking," she said. "It's unacceptable—not to mention stupid—for you to go alone. You'll be severely outnumbered, and if anything should happen to you—"

"I'll be fine," Carlisle said. "These are our friends, our allies. We will respect their wishes."

His tone was mild, but the unwavering glance he gave made it clear there would be no further discussion about the issue. Crossing her arms in annoyance, Rosalie huffed and then grudgingly stepped aside.

"We'll be patrolling the border," she announced loudly enough for all to hear. "Call if you need anything…uh, sir."

A low whine vibrated through the chests of the four wolves on the Quileute side when Carlisle approached Sue and shook her hand. He dipped his head toward the large black wolf who had stationed himself closest to the vampires.

"It's good to see you again, Sam."

The black wolf barked out a greeting.

Rosalie and Tanya watched with narrowed eyes as Carlisle and Sue took their seats in the Jeep. The wolves fanned out around the vehicle and kept pace as it disappeared around a bend in the road.

"Come on," Rosalie muttered. "Let's go find the boys and put them back to work."

-v-v-v-v-v-v-

Sydney Parker tried not to stare, but she was wildly curious about the thin, brown-haired girl whose skin color was several shades lighter than the rest of the Quileutes. Her paleness could almost compete with the vampires'.

The Vice President decided that the young woman—probably in her early 20s—must be the girlfriend of the extremely tall Quileute beside her. While the two weren't holding hands, the lad stood close, his elbow occasionally nudging her side. Still, Sydney was surprised to see her, girlfriend or not, at the tribute ceremony: the briefing she received indicated that only Quileutes and high-ranking honored guests were permitted to attend the ritual.

Sue Clearwater cleared up Sydney's confusion when introductions were made.

"Have you met Jacob Black yet?" Sue asked, grasping the young man's elbow to lead him forward. "He's Billy's only son."

"Billy…Black? The U.S. Ambassador and Head of the North American Security Council?"

"Yes, that's him."

Sydney's face broke into a wide smile as her arm reached out to Jacob. "Your father is a natural leader and top-notch diplomat. I'm very pleased to finally meet you."

Jacob stared at the Vice President's extended hand as if it were a poisonous snake. He didn't move until Sue tightened her grip around his elbow.

"Hi," he muttered as he shook her hand, his eyes looking everywhere but her face.

Sydney was puzzled by his recalcitrance but kept her expression pleasant. She'd raised three boys and was familiar with their more surly moods.

"This beautiful young lady is Isabella Swan," Sue continued. "Her father was Forks' Chief of Police but lost his life during the Battle. Billy is her legal guardian, and she lives on the Reservation with him and Jake."

"My sincere condolences, Isabella," Sydney said, her voice earnest. "The nation will never forget his sacrifice."

"Thank you very much, ma'am," Isabella replied graciously as she shook the Vice President's hand. "And please, call me Bella. All my friends do."

Sydney smiled. "Of course, Bella. I'd be honored if you considered me among your friends."

Nodding, Bella returned the smile with a warm one of her own. Sydney was impressed by the girl's poise and good manners. She felt a slight pang of longing. While she loved her boys, of course, she'd also wished for a little girl.

"Ah, Carlisle!" Sue said, noticing the approach of the Chancellor. "Come say hello to Jake and Bella. Jake hasn't changed much, naturally, but look at Charlie's lovely daughter, all grown up! So different from the teen who spent so much time in your emergency room, isn't she?"

Sydney had just started to turn her head toward Carlisle when the world went crazy and chaos erupted all around her.

Out of the corner of her eye, the boy who was Billy's son seemed to explode outward into a large mass of reddish-brown fur. One of his massive paws knocked her to the ground as he leaped, teeth bared, toward Carlisle's stunned form. At the same time, three more of the Quileute boys morphed into chocolate brown, spotted gray, and dark gray wolves. They also rushed at the Chancellor.

Everything happened in a heartbeat, but Sydney's brain was able to catalog some of the unexpected events. She also noticed the four wolves who accompanied them from the treaty line were only watching the attack from the sidelines. A howling sand-colored wolf raced across the beach and jumped into the middle of fray, and at first, she thought he was also trying to attack Carlisle. But it immediately became clear that he was working with the vampire instead of against him.

Despite the resounding vocalizations of the wolves, Sydney could also hear shouts from other Quileutes and one of her security personnel. Although clutching a profusely bleeding leg, he was yelling at her to get up and take cover. She scrambled to her feet and identified the second Secret Service agent lying either dead or unconscious a short distance away.

Sydney spared a quick glance at Sue, who was screaming something about "her little boy" as tears ran down her face. The hysterical woman wouldn't be of any use to her in that state, so Sydney looked to the next nearest person. Perhaps the girl named Bella could lead her to a safe location.

But when Sydney's eyes met Bella's she realized that the girl was the last person in the world who would help her. And considering the utter hatred that contorted her delicate features, Bella just might be the most dangerous.

"One way or another," the girl said, venom in her voice, "the world is going to learn that those bloodsuckers bring nothing but death and destruction. Anyone who's a leech-lover is a traitor to the human race and my enemy. You are a traitor."

Sydney's gasp died in her throat when Bella pulled a gun from her bag. She stared in shock as the girl raised the weapon, aimed at her head, and fired.

-v-v-v-v-v-v-

Hello! I'm attempting to update at least every two weeks—more frequently if possible. Compared to my other recent fics, these chapters are much longer!

If you're reading The Fence, I apologize for the similar cliffy ending to this chapter! It was just coincidence that the timing worked out like this, lol.

I have quite a few THANK YOUs to give this week:

- FicSisters was so amazing to work with as I rolled out this new fic. They've supported my writing from BOTH our beginnings. :^) Thank you for allowing me to share my story!

- I was absolutely humbled by ADifferentForest's request to feature me in their Author's Spotlight. It was truly an honor for me.

- Thanks for Nic for the mention at The Lemonade Stand!

- I was surprised and thrilled to see IYD rec'd by two WIPs that I follow! Thanks to Payton79 (Two Blue Lines) and fyrebyrd89 (A Sharp Left Turn). If you haven't read these two fics, I highly suggest you check them out!

- As always, thanks SO much to you, the readers and reviewers! I can't tell you how appreciative I am that you took a chance on my first Vampward! Love you all!