Playlist:
Ke$ha, Big Freedia – Raising Hell
P!nk – What About Us?
Halsey -Bad at Love
Martin Garrix; Bebe Rexha - In the Name of Love
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the words. Stephanie Meyer owns the Twilight series, and the songs belong to their respective people.
Raising Hell
Bella's eyes snapped open when the sun hit the horizon. She bounced out of the bed and winked at her lover over the cover of the slim text that Edward and Carlisle had been pouring over all night. Fae culture was fascinating, almost completely alien from the humans.
As near as Edward and Carlisle could tell from the general introductory text, Fae had split from the mortal humans in ancient times, not long after the rise of the Egyptians. The text was frustratingly vague as to why and how the Fae had built their pocket world, but it had something to do with the wars that raged through the ancient Fae. The burning of the Great Library at Alexandria had destroyed a great deal of the knowledge about the ancient times when Fae and mortals still mingled. Since Havana had formed, it had become increasingly distant from the mortal world. Fae culture had changed because of the separation from mortals and the differences in everyday values that expounded over time. And magic...the magicks were everywhere.
This text focused on the simpler differences: facts, everyday customs, and cultural structure.
There were about seven hundred thousand citizens living in Havana at any given time. About three or four hundred thousand more were estimated to be living in the mortal world; that number was blurry, obscured by uncertainties about supernatural abilities and the inability to properly survey the population outside of Havana.
There were limits to the Fae's magickal abilities. Individual Fae were severely limited by their affinities. If a Fae attempted to cast a spell that was beyond their power or experience, then the magicks would pull energy from their life source, their aura. It was the most common cause of death in Havana, though death through battle was a close second. Edward burned with curiosity to know Bella's affinity.
Fae communities were tangled knots of loyalties and life-debts left behind by centuries of varied conflicts between bloodlines. Fae were much wilder than humans, sexual and volatile with almost no taboos. There was no difference between the personal and the professional, the person and the title. All kinds of relationships colored Fae history: entanglements between people that encompassed the entire scale of possibilities.
They freely interacted with mortals and other supernatural beings throughout their known history, rarely forming families and friend groups that were then introduced to Fae abilities and magicks. Because the Fae gene was usually dominant, the offspring of these relationships became members of their bloodline and were regarded as fully Fae.
Rather than enforcing the secrecy of their existence through law, Havana remained a secret in a more practical way: mortals who learned about the Fae were customarily required to have bloodline "sponsors" who paid for mass exposure with their lives. In most cases, the Fae who had been discovered would simply manipulate the mortal's memories to make them forget. Havana was a shadow across the mortal history books, a world that had faded to legend and story as the eras passed.
Things like electricity were redundant in Havana; magicks offered the Fae almost endless access to whatever energy they required. Shifting was a sort of teleportation that made cars obsolete, and for more leisurely travel the Fae rode on horseback. To travel between worlds or over long distances within Havana, the Fae took advantage of "portals" that were run by a strange sect of the Akira who controlled access.
Fae valued knowledge and learning above almost everything else; every citizen was given free access to a system of libraries that operated on a strange "in-between" plane of space that could be accessed from any of the libraries in every city in Havana. The Library encompassed all Fae's considerable records of their history and legends. The Library was full of Fae who had not left it in a very long time, and the text warned that the Library could be dangerous. Still, very few books were restricted.
Even their notions of money were different; Fae had no need for gold or gems, so they based their money on the trading of favors, spells, or goods. Gems were enchanted with spells of differing value or coins were traded that granted routine favors to those who possessed them. Oaths and promises were taken very seriously. Owing someone a favor or a deeper debt was a vow not to be taken lightly among the Fae.
Fae had very few laws and a great many customs. Those who broke the law were instantly killed or hunted down by their own bloodline and summarily executed. Physical, mental, and magickal power defined the Fae, leading to an odd class system that mixed ancient Arthurian legends and the tales of tribal kings. Their leaders were always the most talented members of each bloodline.
Everyday citizens were completely beholden to the decisions of their leaders unless they chose to file for official challenge. The winner of the fierce duel-like challenges took control, and the loser was usually killed. Even a monarch could be Challenged; to do so was incredibly foolish, because all bloodline heirs took oaths of loyalty to the throne. Breaking the oath was punishable by death. The book noted that the Master was the only one who had ever Challenged a monarch with any sort of notable support; it listed the Challenge as 'ongoing'.
The Fae had always had a monarchy, though freedom of choice remained a prized right for every Fae. They viewed their leadership differently than the mortals, fully aware of the burdens and responsibilities of their royal class and viewing them as servants to the larger community. They were tasked with improving the Fae according to their personal sense of right and wrong, ensuring that the bloodlines retained their rights and welfare, and pushing the Fae towards achieving more understanding of their elemental power.
Their leaders were pillars of character in their community, and the bloodline heads-of-house were under constant scrutiny. Scandals in the nobility often led to conflict and death or sweeping change in customs. Monarchs were trained from the time they expressed to serve their people, and at sixteen they took an oath and officially ascended the throne.
"Ya'll might want to prepare yourselves." Bella stated with raised eyebrows.
Alice looked up from her journaling at the kitchen table nervously and Carlisle stopped his perusal of Bella's book collection. When Bella opened the door, at least fifty people in colorful dress swept into the room at supernatural speed, bowing low to Bella before spreading out to carry out their tasks. Some carried fresh flowers, some platters of food. Some carried stacks of paperwork and little boxes with gems inside. Still others carried bulky charts and ancient books.
Edward lost sight of Bella in the suddenly crowded living space. Esme grinned at the stewards who laid out a breakfast feast on the long table, the rich smell of coffee and something familiar rising in the room. Marcos entered behind the crowd, greeting Bella with a kiss on the cheek through arms full of papers. Bella approached the feast on the table, holding her hand out for the thick stack of paperwork Marcos handed her.
"That's the urgent stuff. The rest of it can wait until after your coffee. I know how you can be."
Edward grinned at this small detail of his old Bella. Bella adored caffeine in all its forms. She threw herself into the chair at the head of the table, Edward and his family flashing to their places. As conches were removed from the gleaming silver platters, the sweet smell of pancakes, bacon, and coffee mixed with the musty scent of blood. In front of each Cullen was a steel pitcher filled with warmed animal blood: a strange, sugar-sweet smell rising from the already filled goblets. Bella wore a broad smile at Emmett's exclamation, shifting her focus away from the report she was reading. His simplistic brother was already guzzling liquid from his goblet.
"Dude - you have got to try this." Emmet spoke, motioning towards the cup in front of Jasper. "I have no idea what kind of blood this is, but it's even better than grizzly bear." Bella giggled, turning to Lizzie who had suddenly appeared by her side. The blonde girl was wringing her hands.
"That's high praise from him." She turned back to Emmett across the table. "That, Emmett, is dragon's blood. Don't worry, I'm sure you can fight with one later. The pesky creatures are everywhere at this altitude, and they're huge. All of this probably came from one of them."
Emmett's eyes grew round, and Alice burst in excitedly. "Are there unicorns here too?"
Joy swept across Bella's face, and she turned to Alice to reply, reaching for the coffeepot and ignoring Lizzie tapping her shoulder urgently.
Before a word left her lips, Bella's head wrenched hard in the opposite direction. The unexpected slap rang loud in the space as the woman who had shifted into the attic grabbed Bella's shoulders, sweeping her out of her chair. Bella responded with a mirthful laugh, throwing the newcomer across the room.
No-one interfered with the sudden tussle, Marcos holding a hand up as Edward stepped towards the conflict and stopping them in their tracks, literally. The two women threw each other around the room like rag dolls, shaking the furniture as they fought. Bella gained the upper hand, pinning the beautiful dark-haired woman to the floor and straddling her hips. Golden light consumed Bella's form.
Bella was once again in her skimpy golden dress when the light faded, and the woman grew still under her. Edward couldn't help his wince as Bella dropped a brief kiss on the wild woman's forehead, climbing off her and extending a hand that was gladly taken. He tried hard to remember that Fae were much more physically expressive with their emotions than mortals.
"Well good morning, Kaedra. Jesus, I haven't even had my coffee yet...though I'm surprised Lizzie was able to keep you out this long. Kudos, Elizabeth. Marcos, let them go."
Edward could suddenly move again. The woman slammed into Bella's previously occupied chair and swung her feet on the table. She grabbed a grape from a nearby platter casually, shaking her head and chewing slowly.
"Please, sit down Kay. Make yourself welcome." Bella deadpanned.
The woman rolled her eyes and held out the coffeepot as a peace offering. Bella smiled as she took it, pouring herself a generous cup. "Cullens, meet Kaedra. She is one of my closest friends and largely responsible for the formation of Camp. She has been serving as Regent in my absence."
The Indian woman took in Edward's family with sharp deep-brown eyes, tossing her ebony hair over her shoulder as she took them in. Her large eyes were dismissive as she turned her narrow nose up. Her pouting pink lips twisted in a grimace.
Kaedra was dressed in a black lace-corset top and a full sari skirt that reached her ankles, in rich magenta accented in gold. Black silk was wrapped around her hands in a boxer's wrap, and like Bella, she was barefoot, though she lacked the studded gold strings of jewels that wrapped from Bella's ankles to her big toe. She rested her elbow on the table, pointing an imperious finger at Bella, who had one hand on her hip. For a moment, Edward was stunned by the way the two complimented each other, seemingly unconsciously.
"I so don't give a damn about the freaks, doll-face. You owe me an explanation. I don't care if you die of blood loss telling it."
Bella mimicked her in a high falsetto. "Hello, Cullens. Nice to meet you all. Welcome back, Isabella. Good to see you. How've you been?"
"Yes, yes, good to see you. I'm glad you're not dead in a ditch somewhere after taking off in that beat up old junker of a truck. Thanks for not saying bye, bitch. Now, how big is the trouble you're in and who can I kill about it?" Kaedra pulled a knife out of a holster on her thigh and grabbed an apple.
Marcos slapped Kaedra's feet off the table. "Now, Kay. No killing before breakfast. Izzy, we don't need to kill anyone before breakfast, right?"
Bella's face softened unexpectedly, and she swung one arm around each of her two wild friends. "Goddamn, but I really missed you guys. You always have my back, you know? It's ridiculous. Okay. Let's go to council. This isn't really breakfast table talk." Bella's regent and her commander nodded seriously.
Bella looked at her family gathered around the table. "Why don't you guys go with Lizzie to the Library? I'll see you later, I just have to catch Marcos and Kaedra up and work a few things out."
Carlisle nodded, taking the dismissal for what it was, but once Bella left the room Edward excused himself from the table.
What About Us?
Bella was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs and as Edward approached, she smiled mischievously. "Don't you ever do what you're told?"
Edward grinned. "Not when it comes to you."
She tangled her fingers with his as they re-entered the gilded hallway and the stairs began to spiral downward. She leaned her head on his shoulders, squeezing his arm reassuringly. Edward once again noticed the white stretch of scar tissue on Bella's forearm, the jagged scar that housed her biometric sword. The Fae regarded those gifted with the strange weapons with reverence that bordered on worship.
Soon enough, the stairway stopped and Bella pulled away from him, tugging him past grandiose marble pillars into an open room. A stainless-steel table filled the space. Through the pillars, sunrise gleamed off the floating throne platform and the clouds below the city. Edward caught glimpses of the three thrones above them, casting their imposing shadows into the room. The wall to his right had been left untouched, and the craggy sandstone created welcome nooks and crannies in the cold, imposing atmosphere of the council chamber where Bella's commander and her regent waited.
Bella pushed him into one of the wider nooks in the wall, finger to her lips, then turned and stepped into view of her friends.
She raised her eyebrows. "Where's Jo?"
"He had to treat one of the new recruits who got himself in a pickle. I've promised to fill him in later."
"By which you mean you're going to bitch at him incessantly about your viewpoint before he finally comes to me to get the full story. Honestly, Izz. Thank God you're back. Marcos is a really annoying second in command." Kaedra mitigated the sting of her statement by taking Marcos's hand.
"Yeah, I'm sure it was terrible. Poor Marcos had to keep you in line for what, almost two years?" Bella was absently brushing Kaedra's hair out of her face, cupping her jaw for just a moment. "I dread to think. Still, you two seem to have pulled it together well."
"Not well enough. The Master has been scouring the land to find you. He's gained a helluva following, but most Fae are managing to avoid the conflict by refusing to pick a side. They turn a blind eye to the evil growing in their backyard and whisper your name in the shadows. They'll be forced to choose now. His commanders are sick bastards, Demetri especially. A lot of people just support The Master for fear of what hell his commanders will rain on their bloodlines if they don't. The rest of us fight on the battlegrounds to keep our bloodlines safe, and theirs too."
"Uh, yeah... about that." Bella winced, withdrawing her hand. "Um. Demetri is...um, well. He's dead. I executed him." Kaedra and Marcos stared. Kaedra looked disturbed, but Marcos' face showed his satisfaction. Kaedra pulled her chair back from the table and stood, starting to pace. Marcos turned to glare at her.
"That's good news, Kay. Incredible news, actually." He turned back to Bella. "How'd you manage it?"
Bella tapped at the scar on her forearm silently and Marcos' eyes went wide, but Kaedra could not contain her outburst.
"Marcos, you fucking simpleton. Biometrics may mark Isabella as heir to the throne, but her status is not official yet. Not until the next Choosing. By executing Demetri officially, Izzy just painted a giant target on Camp. We're more than a resistance now, we're a full-on rebellion. Things are gonna get ugly."
"We knew that would happen when Izzy returned. That's kind of the whole point. Unless you got a little too comfy in her chair?"
Kaedra clenched her fist at her side. "Go to hell, Marcos. I'm glad Isabella is back too, but I don't get it." She turned to face her queen. "You know the dominoes that fall after your return. The death toll will be incredible. Why did you come back? Why didn't you run, keep hiding?"
"I couldn't. The beetles moved in too fast, I didn't have time to decide. I was working on it, but then it was time to leave and I just...couldn't."
Now Marcos looked incredulous, gripping Bella's jaw and forcing her to meet his eyes. "What do you mean you couldn't? You've had a target on your back for three years now. You took off from Havana and your mom's; you took off from Miami without an issue."
"Hell, none of the mortals at the club even remembered you had existed." Kaedra broke in.
"I know that." Bella ran a hand through her hair and knocked Marcos' hand from her face. "My forgetting cast failed; it wouldn't work on the Cullens. Destiny denied me. I was able to alter Charlie and the other mortals' memory, but I'd still leave a trail if I had left. Edward and his family would've been in danger."
"What does that have to do with anything? Izz, tell us the whole story. Who are these vampyr?"
"Alright, so I met the Cullens in Forks. There were a few...er...incidents. Edward is my lover, and his family is dear to me. As I apparently am to them. Eventually, the Cullens saw my scars, but I couldn't explain. One of them did something stupid that tipped off the beetles, and Master's forces came running. I knew I should've left but trust me when I say the Cullens would not have stopped pressing the issue. They would've gotten themselves killed."
Marcos looked incredulous. "And? You would've been halfway across the country by the time they were dead, and we were precious to you too."
"You are precious to me, but you are also Fae. You know the risks of the situation. I won't let them be hurt. I'm tired of people getting hurt because of my mistakes. I'm tired of people dying in my name while I hide like a child. I'm not running anymore. I won't allow Master to reign over the Fae. He has taken too much from me, I will not let him bring his evil to bear against my people. No more of this."
"Well, there's a change. Since when do you believe in the greater good?"
"Since when do you, Marcos? This isn't about the greater good. I ran for three years like a dog with my tail between my legs because I didn't think I could do anything to stop him, and I was too scared to die. But it turns out that I care more about my people than I fear the consequences. The Cullens are as much my people as the Fae are. You two are my people too, and the worst thing I ever did was run away like a coward. If I must fight this war to ensure my precious people are free from him then that's what I will do."
Kaedra pinched her nose. "Let me get this straight. You came back to Camp knowing it would ruin the status quo to save a clan of vampires. Who, by the way, are now a weakness that the Master can use against you."
"The same evil threatens everyone. I will not see my people fall to darkness. I will not see the Cullens burn. Make no mistake, if I thought running away would keep everyone safe, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You think I want this? That I want to face up to what I've done, the evil I -" Bella threw her hands into the air as she choked, spitting on the marble floor. "Goddammit Kaedra, what would you have me do?"
"I would have you act as Queen!"
"That's what I'm doing!" Bella shouted, her eyes flashing golden as she sneered in her regent's face. "It was never going to go away. I've hidden my scars just barely out of sight for far too long. From the beginning, I always knew it would come to this, always. I can fall or I can die, but I can't ignore him anymore. I won't. I put the Cullens in danger without their knowledge simply because I cared about them. If saving them is a mistake, it is one I will gladly make. Caring about people and having them care about you is not a weakness."
"What the hell is wrong with you? Do you want to lose? No, you know what, fuck it. I'm about to find out. Let's see what your vampire lover has to tell."
Kaedra's eyes clouded white. Anger rang in her voice and as she spoke, Edward began to feel an invading pain in his head. Images flashed through his thoughts at rapid speed: Bella's silent mind in the cafeteria, her blood in biology, the van. Bella knowing what he was in the forest, the fight with James. Her birthday party and his speech to Bella in the forest. The Volturi and Bella's scars. A medical file, the beetles, Demetri.
The pain in Edward's head grew and Edward hit his knees, tumbling out of his hiding spot. The pain was unbearable, but Edward suppressed his natural fight-or-flight instincts, bringing up one leg and pushing himself to his feet as he glared at Kaedra fiercely, still clutching his head.
Suddenly, Bella was at his side, supporting him as the pain faded from sharp knives to gentle pounding. Bella's warm hand was on his forehead. Her eyes were golden, bleeding black down her cheeks.
Isabella Swan was furious.
Bad at Love
His lover gripped Keadra by the throat, throwing her into the steel table so hard Kaedra's body left a dent. Marcos flashed, trying to hold her back, but Bella shrugged him off violently. She pursued Kaedra across the massive hall, fire burning at her fingertips and her breath ghosting the air with cold ice.
"Don't you ever - Don't you touch him. Anyone who harms a Cullen will answer to me directly." His lover's voice pulsated under the force of her wrath. A flame-filled punch flew towards Kaedra's face, and Edward moved.
He flashed to Bella's side, resting his hand at the back of her neck and meeting her eyes. "Bella, love. Stop. I'm okay." For a moment, Edward thought his angel would ignore him, before she pushed him out of the way telekinetically, taking a breath to ground herself against her fury.
"The Cullens are my precious people, maybe more precious than you." Bella's words broke the tense silence. Her voice was powerful. "You will give them the respect they deserve. I'm much more likely to kill you than they are. They have not, will not abandon me to the Master's darkness."
"Do you know that? He's already walked away from you once, and his family with him."
Bella snarled again, eyes flashing, and Kaedra flinched in response.
"You speak of things you do not understand, your majesty." Bella snarked sarcastically, spitting the title like so much venom.
"Fine, let the magicks know the truth. I hope you don't regret your trust in them, Izzy."
"It is not my trust in them I have cause to regret, my friend."
In the Name of Love
Bella fussed over Edward as they left the hall, haltingly explaining that the power Kaedra had wielded so casually against him was a form of telepathy, similar to that of the vampire ruler, Aro.
"Kaedra is very powerful and holds affinities in Spirit and Fire. She's very passionate. No one will attempt to harm you again, Edward. I just can't take it. I'll set down the rules for interactions with you and your family as soon as I get to my office."
As they approached the stairway, Josephat met them, passing Bella a cup of water and quirking an amused smile at her. "The council chambers still stand, I hope. Poor Lizzie had to call the soldiers to keep Kay out of the attic. I think most of them will recover. I take it you and Kaedra worked things out?"
He scanned Bella's body, his hands a few inches from her person. Colors flew around his hands in a magnificent display of Bella's aura. "We've got to do something about these knots in your aura." the man muttered distractedly as the rest of the Cullens approached them, Carlisle leading the group.
"Edward, you simply must see the magnificence of the Library," Carlisle started, his arms packed with dusty tomes. "I could spend eternity in that place and still not read every book."
Bella snorted, carefree once more as she greeted her vampires. "Careful, Carlisle; there are those who do just that, and you would be wasted as a librarian."
"Your friends are very interested in our magicks, Isabella."
Emmett broke in. "Dude- you guys can do magic. Like honest-to-God magic. That's not getting old for a while."
Bella grinned. "I've always felt the same, Emmett. The wonder never really faded for me, and I know you guys well enough to know you'll want to know everything. I should send you guys to the School." Emmett made a face at her, and Bella turned back to her healer friend. "Besides, stepping into Havana is quite surreal the first time, if you can remember that far back, Jo. I remember thinking I had lost my mind."
"No-one forgets their first slice of our world, my queen. Not even old dinosaurs like me."
Esme broke in. "If you don't mind my asking, Josephat, how old are you? I wasn't aware of other immortals."
Jo mused thoughtfully. "No one lives forever, lovely Esme. All beings, even immortal ones such as yourself, go to the other-side eventually. There are many simple magicks to extend the years and preserve youth, though extended immortality is a deeper magick and pursued only by those of significant power— and in my case, significant foolishness. In Havana, age means very little. Once a Fae reaches sixteen and goes through the Choosing ceremony, they have all the rights and responsibilities of an adult, which they hold until they die and pass to the other-side. As for myself, I suppose I must be nearing about nine hundred now."
Edward and Carlisle blinked at him, and Jasper's jaw hit the floor. Emmett whistled in a high, descending note. Bella, laughing, exclaimed, "That's nothing! Kaedra must be past four thousand by now. She's old-school Egyptian, before the Romans even knew that part of the world existed."
"Such old age is rare, even here. Still, a significant number of Fae have pursued the fire's blessing in some form or another. Some of us have lived to regret it." Josephat's face fell, and suddenly he looked his age. Bella ran a hand down her companion's arm, soothing him.
They entered the large kitchen on the first floor, applause ringing through the dining hall as the lunchtime crowd caught sight of them. A frazzled Lizzie approached the group as the noontime bell rang out. "Lunch will be served swiftly, Bella. At least I hope so. There's been an influx of people into Camp, and the soldiers are getting hungry."
Marcos shifted into existence at Lizzie's side, shaking his head. "Are those knuckleheads harassing the kitchen staff again? I guess the extra drills weren't enough to teach them manners. I apologize, Lizzie. I'll go wrangle them."
He blinked away again, and Edward spied him across the hall, sneaking up on two young men who were yelling at the cooks.
"Man, Lizzie, I'm sorry too. I should've known better than to leave you in charge of the kitchens as well. We've got to be so understaffed." Esme piped in eagerly. "I could help with that, Bella. You know how I love to cook, and it'll be a challenge to feed such a large crowd."
Lizzie looked hopefully at Bella, who nodded. Esme linked her arms with Bella's new head-of-house, tugging her towards the large pots boiling away on the stove with Rosalie tagging along behind them. "No time like the present, child. Show me what I have to work with."
Kaedra joined them as they walked to their table at the head of the room, greeting Bella with a tired smile. "Are you gonna kill me if I try to eat with you?"
"Not if you keep your hands to yourself. Play nice, Kay. And I'm taking your brownie."
"Take mine too. You're way too skinny." Jo was giving Bella the stink eye.
Marcos threw a leg over the bench next to Kaedra. "You don't know the half of it, Jo. Our little queen has been neglecting her health without your supervision. The vampyr aren't up to the task, apparently."
He met Edward's eyes challengingly. When Bella smacked his arm, he pouted. "What? Kay filled me in."
Bella groaned. "Dammit. I'll never get out of an exam now." She pointed at the healer's evaluating eyes. "See? He's plotting some diabolical scheme to get me into the medical wing. Aren't you supposed to protect me from my enemies?"
"If you want me to protect you from Josephat, I'll need a raise."
Keadra snorted, reaching around Alice to scoot her brownie onto Bella's plate. "There's not enough money in the world to make me take that job." But her words trailed off in Edward's mind, his attention pulled to his sister's suddenly foggy thoughts.
Alice Cullen had frozen in her seat; eyes unfocused.
