A/N: After days and days of editing and rewriting, it's finally finished. This chapter was a pain in the butt to write! But the next one the Cullens will be joining us and I'm excited about that!

There is a lot of information in this chapter. But I felt Bella needed this before she could sit down with the Cullens and figure out all their crazy.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Enjoy xoxo

A huge thank you to triinityz for being the 200th reviewer of this story. You're awesome! I won't tell you what's going to happen in the future but I will say I have other plans for Marcus. :)

– Jasper's POV –

Pete looked over at me, shocked. "The Cullen's didn't teach her anythin', did they?" His eyes shot to Bella. "Ed didn't tell ya anythin' about our world?"

"This ain't somethin' any of 'em know," I explained before Bella could answer. "Carlisle never taught his progeny about vampire life. He was more inclined to teach them how to be human than the vampires they'd become. The only ones who have even the slightest idea are Alice and Edward, and that's only due to their gifts. And even then, they know only the bare minimum. Even when they asked me, Carlisle would entice them with shoppin' trips and distractions, then make sure I didn't tell 'em anythin'."

"How the hell did he stop ya?"

I shrugged. "It didn't take much. He knew he couldn't attack me, provoke me, or punish me. We both knew he wasn't my Alpha and there's no way in hell I'd ever submit to him. So, he resorted to dirtier tactics . . ."

Another growl reverberated through Peter's chest. "He threatened Alice."

"Not always Alice. Sometimes it was Esme or Rosalie."

If there's one thing I will not tolerate it was a woman bein' harmed. Any woman. Human, vampire, or otherwise. My mamma taught me to take care of women, not to fear 'em, not to use 'em, abuse 'em, or cause 'em any harm or pain.

As male vampires—fuck, just as men—it's our job to protect our females. They're pure, kind, and compassionate. They're everythin' good about vampirism. They're our souls, our hearts, our homes. The day Carlisle threatened sweet Esme to get to me, I lost all respect fer him.

But that weren't the worst of it, Whitlock. You should've been listenin' to me long before now. If you had, we could've saved our mate a lot of pain.

I looked over at my little Darlin' and, as Peter watched his growl became more menacin'. "Once Bella joined us, she became his pawn," I admitted.

"What?" Bella frowned. "Pawn? How?"

I took her hand in mine. "Carlisle and Alice, and on occasion, Edward, would use you and your vulnerability in our world to keep me and, sometimes Emmett, under their control," I explained. "The situation with the nomads is the best example I can give ya. Alice had been havin' visions fer weeks, so we knew they were in the area. Around that time, Pete and Char were visitin'. I wanted to take them and deal with the nomads before they became a problem fer us or killed someone in town."

"But Carlisle said no . . ."

I nodded. "He wanted a peaceful resolution without resortin' to violence. He forbid me to tell Pete and used you as his excuse. Normally that sorta thing wouldn't deter me when the Coven was in danger but Alice chimed in and said you'd be scared if you saw that side of me and I was already so in love with ya, Darlin', the thought of you bein' scared of me . . ."

The anger comin' from Pete was red hot, but what I felt from Bella was worse. It was an emotion that went beyond anger.

"I think Alice knew the nomads were closer than any of us thought and chose not to tell us," I continued. "But I can't be sure of that, it was just a gut feelin' and because of it, I asked Eddie not to take ya to the baseball game but he insisted you'd be fine and it wasn't my place to question him. He reminded me, again, that you were his mate, not mine, and told me to butt out."

"Then the fiasco at the baseball field happened," I shook my head. "I was ready to take out the nomads. It ain't like it would've been all that hard. I've taken on worse. But, again," I sighed, "Carlisle said no, usin' you as his excuse. You were fragile. Breakable. You could get hurt. He said if you saw that side of vampirism you'd be terrified. And I was so sure you'd be afraid of me . . ."

Again, her anger spiked. "So, let me get this straight," she growled, "instead of allowing you to take care of a minor problem before it became a bigger issue, Carlisle Cullen—idiot extraordinaire—used your fear that I would see something supernatural or find out what you'd done and suddenly be afraid of you, to manipulate you into doing things his way?"

I nodded. "Pretty much."

"So, instead of sitting me down and explaining to me that vampire life isn't all pretty sparkly vamps, unicorns, and fuckin' rainbows, I was put through the showdown at the baseball field and confronted with red-eyed vamps who wanted to kill me. Then I was forced to flee town and was locked up in a hotel room where my fear and anxiety soared through the fuckin' roof! Then, to top it all off, the fight at the ballet studio where I was viciously attacked by a vampire, and thrown around like a fuckin' doll. My leg was broken. My ribs cracked. I was then bitten by the red-eyed vampire, who, in the end, you killed! Right in front of me!"

Surprisin' the hell outta me, Pete burst out laughin'. "S-Sorry . . ." he continued to laugh. "It's not funny . . ."

Once Pete started, I started, and that got Bella goin'.

"Oh damn. These fuckin' vamps," Pete laughed.

Once we'd all calmed down, Bella poured more wine and sat herself down in my lap. "Silly, vampire," she sighed, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

"They've got no fuckin' clue, do they?" Pete sighed, takin' a sip of his wine as Bella leaned into me, restin' her head on my shoulder. "What about their instincts? All vamps have 'em!"

"Not these vamps. Carlisle taught them to ignore their instincts. When they can't," I sighed, "they're scolded or punished."

While Bella's confusion skyrocketed, I felt Peter's fury as a low growl began to rumble in his chest. Bella looked at him, her eyes wide in alarm and panic. Instinctively, she shifted closer to Pete, but when he continued to growl, she moved from my lap to sit in his, curlin' into him so that she could soothe her mate. She didn't understand why he was upset or what had caused his sudden spike in emotion, but her instincts would've demanded she comfort and soothe him.

"That's another thing," I sighed, "I can guarantee ya, nobody in that Coven—maybe not even Carlisle—knows about True Matin' bonds and the other bonds we vamps can form. Which means they don't know the difference between our growls, that we purr only fer our True Mate, what it means to have a True Mate or the rules we have fer one another."

"And Cupcake doesn't know about any of this . . ."

"The cupcake is sat right here!" Bella snarled, her frustration gettin' the better of her "And she would appreciate you two not speaking about her as if she's not in the room!"

She shifted outta Peter's lap and took her seat between us again.

"And no! I do not have any idea what you two are going on about, so would one of you please explain?"

"Ah, fuck me," Pete sighed, shakin' his head. He turned his attention back to me. "Our mate needs to know how this world works if we're gonna eradicate the Volturi and rule from Italy, Major. I dunno how Demetri will react to what we've got planned, but I can guarantee he won't be our only problem in the future. Nor the only Alpha male we come across."

"Gettin' what we want ain't gonna be that hard," he told us, "especially after we take Italy. Most, if not all vamps know of ya, Major. They've heard the stories and know of yer power. They'll learn of our Goddess and see her power and, once they've had a taste of her Nectar, they'll fall to their knees and beg to join us!"

A low growl reverberated through me. "But?"

"But," he sighed, "you've got a lot of enemies, Major."

I sighed. "They ain't dead by now?"

"Some, but not all. While ya were with the Cullen's, ya were reasonably safe. Char and I took care of a few problems in the beginning . . ."

"Who?" I growled. "And why the fuck am I just hearin' about this now?"

Pete shrugged. "It was nothin' we couldn't handle on our own."

"Who?" I repeated.

"No one important," Pete shrugged. "Alberto, Frank, Beau. Ernest, and," he smirked, "remember Clara?"

Bella hissed. "Who. Is. Clara?"

"One of the worst newborns I ever trained. I told Maria not to turn her but she insisted the girl would be gifted. Off her fuckin' rocker was more like it!" I sighed.

She was still upset and growlin', so I pulled her chair closer to me and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Leanin' close, I whispered. "Don't be upset, Darlin'. I ain't interested in any female but you, Isabella."

"Clara weren't anythin' to worry about, Cupcake," Pete assured her. "After she lost her arm in battle Maria . . . well she . . . uh," he sighed and his eyes shifted to me, unsure if he should continue.

"Maria was a jealous bitch. She saw me as hers and only hers. If any female showed even the slightest interest in me, she'd become insanely jealous and often lash out at the female," I explained. "It was always worse if I showed an interest in another female."

Bella took a deep breath. "And you liked Clara?"

"Not in a romantic way. I enjoyed talkin' to her. I knew how she felt for me, but I didn't return her feelin's and I knew what Maria would do if she ever found out, so I kept my distance unless we were trainin'. Clara wasn't a fighter. Even as a newborn, she wasn't a fighter. And I didn't expect her to survive her first battle. But she got through it."

"She was about, six or seven months old when she lost her arm in battle. Maria had been watchin' Clara. She knew how Clara felt about me and she used that as an excuse to punish her. After the battle, she removed Clara's head and gave it to the newborns to play with. I'll spare ya all the details of what they did with her head, but when she got it back . . ."

"Looked a little bit like they'd poured acid over the one side of her face . . ." Pete filled in.

I nodded. "The damage was irreparable. Whatever they'd done, they'd added venom into the mix and as ya know, that's the only thing that'll leave a scar on our bodies."

"Is that why she went insane?" Bella wondered. "Because of what they'd done to her?"

"No, what they did would've caused her excruciating pain, but the damage wasn't done to her mind," I explained.

When I felt her confusion spike again, with an added heap load of curiosity, I took it as a sign she was ready to learn about this world she'd been brought into.

"All right, Darlin', first lesson: a vampire can lose all their limbs and, with enough venom and human blood, be put back together again with little to no lasting side effects. It hurts like a bitch and the pain varies dependin' on the limb, but as long as ya don't burn the limb, it can always be reattached."

"There will be venom loss upon removal," I warned her. "If the limb is separated from the body fer a long period, it can dry up. If ya don't plan to reattach the limb, the best thing to do is soak it in fresh human blood. That'll help keep it fresh and replenish the venom, makin' it easier to reattach later. Reattachin' a severed limb will hurt and require a lot of venom. Introducin' foreign venom to another vamps body is fuckin' painful."

"And it'll leave a scar," Pete said, showin' her the thin scar around his wrist and several of his fingers. There were others scattered across his body, but she'd have plenty of time to explore later.

She reached out and touched the scar, lightly tracing her fingers across the pale, thin scar. "When did this happen?" She whispered. "During the wars?"

"Nah. Got this bout eight or so years back. Some nomad thought he could sweet talk Char into bein' his mate and wouldn't take her no fer an answer. When I stepped in the bastard thought he could take me!"

"And he ripped off your hand?" She asked, lookin' concerned.

"Yeah, but it ain't all bad. I got his head in the end!"

I sighed. I'm not sure Peter's story was helping Bella's confusion. After hearin' about the fight, despite Peter's enthusiasm and victory, she'd added concern and worry into her mix of emotions.

"Let's get back to our lesson," I said, gettin' her attention once again. "The only body part that cannot be removed for longer than seventy-two hours, is the head. Once the head is removed, usually it's burnt and the vampire is dead. But, in some cases, the head is removed as punishment. If it's severed from the body longer than three days, once it's reattached there can be severe problems . . ."

"Like what?" She frowned.

"It can be a lot like a human sufferin' brain damage," I explained. "The symptoms vary dependin' on how long the head has been separated from the body. It can be anything from cognitive damage where the vampire has difficulty processin' information, expressin' thoughts, understandin' others, a shortened attention span, and partial or complete memory loss. They could experience changes in their senses, disorientation, balance issues, or a heightened sensitivity to pain. It could be physical, where they experience headaches, tremors, sensitivity to light, slurred speech, and possibly even seizures as the brain tries to reconnect with the body. They could experience behavioral and emotional symptoms like irritability, impatience, heightened emotions, or not feelin' any emotion at all."

"Takin' someone's head is always a risk," I told her. "But it can be done. And as long as it's reattached within the first couple of hours, there shouldn't be any problems. I saw a lot of these symptoms in the South when heads were removed for longer periods to inflict maximum pain."

"Fer a newborn like yerself, if yer attacked, yer instinct will be to rip into yer enemy's jugular and decapitate them. Once that happens, because of yer newborn strength and the damage you'll likely inflict, there ain't any way to reattach the head. It'll likely be crushed in yer hand . . ."

"What The Major's sayin'," Pete smirked, "in his roundabout way, is if we're attacked and ya wanna question yer attackers, try to remember to incapacitate them without removin' their heads. Take their legs. Likely, we won't be keepin' 'em alive, so it won't matter what ya crush as long as it ain't their head and we can get information outta them."

"Got it." Bella nodded in understanding. "So, what happened to Clara? How long did Maria keep her head?"

I looked at Pete fer that answer because I had no idea. When I left the south, Clara's head was still in Maria's possession. I didn't think she'd be stupid enough to reattach it!

"Maria took her head in '41. And Clara stumbled upon me and Char in '53. She didn't say how long she'd had her head back, but she was crazed outta her fuckin' mind by the time she crossed our path. By that point, killin' her was a mercy. And in everyone's best interest. She would've likely exposed us all or brought the wrath of the Volturi down upon all those who'd seen her and let her live. I weren't about to risk our lives and our freedom."

Bella nodded. "I wonder why Maria let her go?" She frowned. "It doesn't seem like the smartest plan. From everything you've told me, I imagine her to be a shrewd, manipulative, ruthless woman. Not someone who'd make such a stupid mistake and risk her life, freedom, and territory."

That was a good question, one I didn't have an answer for.

"No matter," she shrugged. "If it's that important, we'll ask when we see her."

"See her?" Pete asked, eyes wide in alarm. "W-Why would we see her?"

Bella shrugged. "Eventually, we'll have to deal with the South."

"You want her to join us?" Pete bellowed.

"Of course, not," Bella sighed and rolled her eyes. "Really, Peter? I may be young and naïve about this world I've only just joined, but give a Cupcake a little credit! Do you honestly think after everything Jasper has told me about Maria and his history with her—and all the things he hasn't told me—that I'd ever allow that woman to drink from me and join my utopia?"

I watched as Pete visibly relaxed. "So, you want to kill Maria?"

"Of course, not!" She sighed and rolled her eyes again. "Death is peaceful. It's quick. It's over and done. No. No. That won't work at all. I'll agree, some of our enemies will die a fiery death. But, for the likes of Maria, I see something vastly more . . . unpleasant in her future . . ."

There was a wicked gleam in her eye. I wasn't sure what she had planned fer Maria, but I was open to the possibility of leavin' her alive to suffer. After everythin', she's done—not just to me, Pete, and Char, but countless others—she deserves to know what it's like to feel afraid.

With a smile on her lips, Bella leaned forward and kissed my cheek.

Pete sighed. "When are ya thinkin' that'll happen?"

She shrugged. "No idea. I haven't thought that far ahead. No time soon. I would think something of this magnitude would take planning, recon, and intel. And since I have no idea how to do any of those things, I'll leave it to you two. For now, we should focus on one problem at a time. The Cullen's first. Then we can discuss our growing list of enemies and how we're going to eradicate them. Ideally, I'd like to take some time to train and hone my abilities before we're forced into battles nobody but you two and Char are prepared for."

Damn. That was fuckin' sexy.

She knew what she wanted but she was bein' cautious and smart. She recognized our weaknesses and knew we needed to train and prepare for what was ahead of us. She was controlled, elegant, and commanding. It was fuckin' sexy as hell!

"Anyone else come lookin' fer me recently?" I wondered.

"Nah. It's been quiet. But it won't stay that way. Especially not after we take Italy. As soon as yer enemies hear the God of War has taken control of our world, they will come." He nodded. "Cupcake needs to be ready fer that and aware of what's comin' before it lands on our doorstep, especially if this is the type of fight you'll be facin'."

I nodded in agreement. I wouldn't leave her defenseless or teach her to live a Cullen lifestyle. She needs to know everythin' about the world she's just joined. It wasn't all fancy cars and designer clothes. Most vampires don't give a shit about material possessions. Fuck, most don't even have a house, let alone a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes!

"Ready fer lesson two, Darlin'?" I asked, turnin' my attention to my mate.

She smiled and nodded eagerly. "Yes, Major."

I smirked. "All right, Kitten, lesson two: there are a few different vampire lifestyles but the most common is the nomadic lifestyle. Those who are nomadic choose to remain in the shadows, move frequently, and can be some of the most uncivilized and vicious members of our society. Not all of them, but most are like James and his Coven. They spend their lives wanderin' this earth, huntin', and killin'. Nothin' else matter's to 'em but the feed, the kill, and the hunt."

She nodded.

"There are others who choose to live a more civilized lifestyle. Those vamps are typically more refined and controlled. They'll have a vast amount of wealth at their disposal, multiple homes all over the world, and whatever else they desire."

"Is that common?" She asked. "For vampires to be wealthy?"

"I'd say it depends on the vampire. Even those who choose to live the nomadic lifestyle could squirrel away whatever they pilfer from their victims and amass a boatload of cash over the decades and centuries. Just because they choose to be nomadic doesn't mean they don't have the means to live a more civilized life. It's all about preference. And we live such long lives, it ain't hard to imagine the vast fortunes we acquire in that time."

"I can't imagine Carlisle stealing and if he was hunting animals, who'd he steal from?" She asked. "How did he make money before he became a doctor?"

"The Volturi," I answered. "Carlisle was turned in 1663. By 1670, he was in Italy livin' with the Volturi. Aro gave him a very generous handout and from there his money accumulated interest while it sat in his bank account. And he's made a lot of shrewd long-term investments in steel, gold, and oil. Then when Alice joined the Coven, she foresaw recessions and when to invest or not invest in somethin'. He's got stocks in companies like Wal-Mart and Apple. Plus, there's his salary as a doctor. He's been workin' fer two centuries. And he doesn't pay fer health care, groceries, or other human expenses so he saves money there. However, he does splurge on occasion. He owns a yacht, a private island, several multi-million-dollar properties, and a collection of Renaissance art that's worth a fortune."

"I guess it makes sense when you put it like that. He's three hundred and fifty-nine years old. That's a long time to amass such wealth."

I nodded in agreement. We hadn't talked about finances yet, so she had no idea how much we were worth. Carlisle may have a net worth in the billions but he ain't got nothin' on the Whitlocks. She's already lookin' overwhelmed. It might be better to save that information fer another time

"Char and I have always traveled together," Pete told her. "We live a half-life. Sometimes we're nomadic and sometimes we settle in a semi-permanent location. Over the years we've accumulated a lot of wealth. The majority of that has gone into several properties spread all over the world which we maintain ourselves by travelin' from one place to another."

She nodded, takin' it all in. "But going to high school on an endless loop and having a career as a doctor, that's weird, right?"

"Yes and no," I answered. "As far as I'm aware, there ain't any other vampires who live the way the Cullens do. Not even the Denali's—who partake in the animal blood diet—go to high school."

"There are those with jobs and careers, though. Now that we can work from home or have our own businesses, it's become easier fer vamps to earn an honest paycheck. I know a vamp who's been writin' romance novels fer centuries. Another who's an artist and has galleries all over the world. Pete is a mechanic and restores classic cars. Char has several home-based businesses that keep her busy when they aren't travelin'. I play the stock market and earn money through investments, but I've done other things over the years, as well."

"Those vamps who're nomadic likely won't have jobs," I continued. "They'll steal the clothes off their victims and whatever money they have with them. If they need a car, they'll steal it. If they need somewhere to stay, they'll find an abandoned building, hide out in a forest, even break into an empty home, a place fer sale, or a foreclosure."

She nodded her head, takin' everythin' in as I spoke.

"Now, lesson three," I began, watchin' her to make sure she was still listenin', "all vamps, no matter their chosen lifestyle or diet, are ruled by their instincts, which are geared to the three f's. Feedin'. Fightin' fer their survival or fer territory. And fuckin'. Those instincts are never more prevalent than in yer first year to eighteen months. After a newborn's human blood leaves their system, their instincts will taper off a little, but a vamp who's been taught well by their Sire will know to rely on their instincts."

"But Carlisle never taught his progeny about instincts, so do they not have them?" She wondered.

"All vamps have instincts, Cupcake."

I nodded. "The Cullens have just been taught to ignore those instincts and, if they can't, there are repercussions."

"Like what?"

"Depends on the offense," I shrugged. "Could be as simple as Esme scoldin' Emmett fer sayin' a bad word, washin' out his mouth with soap, or takin' away his video games. Alice has lost her wardrobe and credit cards. Carlisle's taken away Rosalie's garage and tools."

"Or, it could be more vampiric in nature," I went on. "Takin' a limb fer example. Emmett's lost fingers, his hands, his tongue, and an arm. Rosalie's lost a foot and her tongue. It could be somethin' like keepin' 'em isolated from their mate or companion. Or takin' away their feedin' privileges."

"Is that normal?"

"The punishment's their usin' ain't that unusual in Coven's, Cupcake," Pete explained.

"It's the offense that's unusual," I finished. "Fer example, Emmett lost his arm defendin' Rosalie from a nomad who was tryin' to proposition her. We all know how protective Em is, especially of his Rosie. It was his instinct to protect her and this nomad was tryin' to lure her away and not listenin' when she told him 'no'. Emmett stepped in and acted like a typical male vampire. Now, in any other Coven, that would've been accepted as normal. Emmett was doin' his job and protectin' his mate. With the Cullens, Emmett was punished fer actin' on his natural, vampiric instincts and makin' the whole Coven look like uncivilized barbarians."

"Oh, I see! So, the punishments are normal, it's what they're doing to earn a punishment that's fucked up." She shook her head. "It also didn't go unnoticed that you never mentioned Edward being punished."

I shrugged. "As far as I'm aware, he's never been punished by Carlisle or Esme."

She huffed "So, the only one who needed a good telling off, and a swift kick in the ass, never got it! Of course, not! It all makes so much more sense now. They're associating their natural, vampiric instincts with punishment!"

"That could explain why they're all so controlled," she frowned. "Maybe if they were taught to embrace this life instead of being encouraged to continue living as if nothing had changed they wouldn't all be so tightly wound and uncomfortable in their own bodies. It could also be why Edward is feeling guilty. He's an unmated male. He may be a hundred-year-old man, but he lives within the body of a seventeen-year-old boy. He's chockful of hormones and impulses; would Carlisle have punished him for acting on his sexual desires?"

I shrugged. "If he did, I wasn't around fer it. Though, after what I've seen in that Coven, anythin' is possible."

"Does their diet play a part in any of this?" She asked.

"Partially." I nodded. "Carlisle theorizes drinkin' animal blood gives ya back some of yer humanity. I think that's a load of crap, personally. Life is about makin' choices, even vampire life. Most vamps don't give a shit who they're eatin', as long as they eat. But, although Pete, Char, and I choose to drink human blood we only kill those who truly deserve it. There are times we could spend weeks, sometimes months researchin' a victim before we kill."

"And that's unusual for the majority of vampirekind?"

"Some would consider it as unnatural as the animal blood diet," Pete answered. "As The Major said, most vamps—no matter their chosen lifestyle—don't give a shit who they feed from as long as they're gettin' blood in their bellies. Others out there like The Major, Char, and I choose to feed from the dregs of society, but it ain't natural fer a vamp to be so picky."

"Then why do it?"

"Because—despite what Carlisle thinks—we don't agree with his 'all human lives matter' philosophy," I told her. "This is a diet we can live with, and one that we feel gives back to the human world. We've all taken so much and, in a way—instead of feedin' on the helpless and takin' innocent lives, as we've done in the past—this is our way of protectin' humans. We hunt the worst of the worst. Those who the human police have no hope of ever catchin'."

"Maybe it ain't right to play judge, jury, and executioner, but frankly, I think it's better than doin' nothin'," Pete added, "and lettin' some sick bastard take another innocent life. If I could do somethin' about it, why shouldn't I?"

Bella frowned. "I don't understand how Carlisle can think he and his Coven have regained their humanity when it's you three who are making the real difference in the world. I know he's a doctor and he's likely saved millions of lives in his lifetime, but every time he goes to work he risks exposure. He's brainwashed his progeny into acting like humans instead of the vampires they are. They're punished for acting on their instincts. And all he seems to worry about is saving humans. Yes, it's admirable, but what about the impact on the forests and the animals, some of which are going extinct? And how many humans are at risk because he's sending five starving vampires into a building cram packed with delicious humans five days a week? At least you've found a way to make a difference that doesn't put our world, or innocent humans, at risk."

"The Denali's are better," I assured her. "Though they do hunt animals, they still embrace vampire life and all that goes with it. Except fer their chosen diet, they ain't any different from the rest of us."

Pete nodded. "Ya ain't gonna find many vamps—if any—save the Cullens who're willin' to go to high school every damn day and surround themselves with humans."

"So, animal drinkers do have the same preternatural instincts that all vampires possess, it's just the Cullens haven't been taught to embrace this life and what their instincts mean?"

"That's correct, Darlin'," I nodded. "Ya ain't gonna find any vamps or covens like the Cullens. As well respected and liked as he may be, Carlisle Cullen fucked up his progeny like no other. And I ain't convinced the damage he's caused them is reversible."

"For their sake and the rest of the world, let's hope you're wrong," she sighed. "If they can't relearn what it means to be a vampire and embrace this life, I doubt they'll survive what's coming."

I couldn't agree with her more! I didn't hold out much hope fer the Cullens, though. Emmett might do well if he's willin' to learn and break away from Carlisle's influence. But I can't see Carlisle, Esme, or Rosalie takin' to vampire life so easily.

"I think this is some of what my mother wants to change," Bella said. "To make it so that vampirekind can more easily blend into human society. But is that even possible?"

Now that was a good question, one I didn't know how to answer. Because part of me worried it wasn't possible.

"I think," Pete said, looking between me and Bella, "not only is it possible, but in this day and age—with cameras everywhere, social media, and all the advancements in human technology—it's essential. Keepin' ourselves hidden is more important than ever. There are a lot of nomads out there who've voiced their fears, especially in recent years. They're worried. There's real fear amongst vamps who think the Volturi are outdated and it's just a matter of time before humans catch on to our existence. And if that happens . . . well, let's put it this way, not all humans are as acceptin' as you are, Cupcake."

I've been living with the Cullens too long. I had no idea the nomads were worried.

We should've left a long time ago.

I sighed. If we had, we wouldn't have found Bella.

"Then I guess it's a good thing I'm here." Bella smiled. "Change is coming. Once we've dealt with the Cullens, we'll decide how to go about implementing our plans for a new vampire world."

Not finished, she turned her attention to me. "Please don't think my newborn brain is so easily distracted I didn't notice you avoided my earlier questions, Major." She folded her arms over her chest as her eyes narrowed. "I'd like to know about Demetri, the Volturi, and why you're so worried about a fight."

Damn.

"All right, Darlin'," I sighed, "lesson four; The Volturi Coven and the Volturi guard are separate," I explained. "From what I've learned from Carlisle and Demetri over the years, the Volturi Coven consists of nine members: Aro, his mate Sulpicia, Marcus, Caius and his mate Athenodora, Demetri, Jane, Alec, and Felix. The rest are guards of whatever rank and employees. Some of the employees are human, who'll either be turned or die, depending on their usefulness."

She nodded.

"Demetri," I went on, "is the leader of the Volturi guard. He's also the highest-ranking Elite Guard member, consisting only of himself, Jane, Alec, and Felix. Jane and Alec are considered the most powerfully gifted Volturi members. Jane can create an illusion of burnin' pain. Her gift deceives the mind of her target into believin' their body is bein' burnt alive. I've never experienced her gift fer myself, but it's said to be excruciatin'. Jane's twin, Alec, has an equally powerful gift. But, in a way, his gift is the antidote to Jane. She makes ya feel the worst pain imaginable, while Alec makes ya feel nothin'."

"Nothing?"

"Absolutely nothin'. He can selectively or completely block the senses of an entire group of people at the same time, which allows the Volturi to easily execute their opponents. His gift works on multiple targets while Jane can only affect one person at a time. But while Jane's gift is almost instant, Alec's is slower."

Bella nodded. "I can see why they'd be feared. What about the other two?"

"As far as I'm aware, Felix doesn't have a gift. But don't let that fool ya. He's a member of the Elite guard fer a reason." I told her. "Demetri," I sighed, "not only does he have two thousand years of trainin' experience, and exceptional speed, he's also a tracker. A tracker who's a thousand times more gifted than James. I dunno how his gift works, but as soon as he meets someone, their essence is cataloged in his mind and no matter where they go in the world, he'll always be able to find ya."

"There are others in the Volturi who're powerful," I told her. "Chelsea. Heidi. Corin. Renata. Even Aro and Marcus. But it's these four who are unique. They are the Elite. And they are not to be underestimated. They're all over a thousand years old and were trained by Demetri himself."

"Who trained Demetri?" She wondered.

"I don't know," I answered. "I would assume Caius or possibly his Sire, whoever that was, I'm not sure."

"And you're worried he'll stand in our way when it comes to what we've got planned?"

"Yes."

"So, you two would fight?"

"Yes."

"From the look on your face and your avoidance of this subject, I'm guessing that's not a good thing . . .?"

She needs to know, Whitlock. You can't sugarcoat this. She needs to be prepared fer our world; right now, all she knows is the Cullens way of life. She needs to know what's comin' our way.

"It ain't pretty, Cupcake." Pete sighed, his eyes meeting mine. "She needs to know."

"Is it," she sighed, "sexual?"

My eyes widened. "Come again?"

"Well," she sighed again, "it seems to be how things are done in the supernatural world. Charlie. Jacob and the wolves. I can't imagine the Volturi are all that particular in how they treat their human employees, maybe even other vampires. And what I'm imagining of the southern wars isn't pretty, either."

Correct her right the fuck now! Or I will! The Major snarled.

"No, Darlin', it's not sexual," I assured her. "What the shifters have done and what Charlie has done is wrong in every conceivable way. Vampires may be the grizzliest of monsters, but this has nothin' to do with sex or barbaric sexual acts."

"At our core, vampires are beasts. Animals." I continued. "Essentially, a Coven is like a pack. There must be a clear hierarchy. If there isn't, and a Coven is left to do as they please, there will be chaos."

"But the truth is, Cupcake," Pete took over, "whether ya live in a Coven or yer a nomad, all vamps are pretty much out fer themselves. They want to be the strongest and align themselves with the strongest of our kind. And to make a name fer themselves, vamps—typically males—will seek out the strongest and most notorious of our kind and challenge them."

"Did this happen with the Cullens?" She asked.

"A few times." I nodded. "Alice would see it coming. She'd tell Carlisle, who'd send all the others away and I would be left to deal with the problem."

I felt her anger simmering just beneath the surface. I can't imagine what she'd do or say when she found out the next part.

"And this fight . . . what happens? You just beat the crap outta each other until there's a winner, right?" She frowned, already knowing that wasn't right. "That doesn't seem so bad. You've fought before . . ."

"Darlin', this fight is to the death."

A/N: It's a little longer than I anticipated but I'm finally happy with this chapter. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to let me know!

See you next time! xoxo