Here ya go ya'll, another chapter! I felt creative today, so enjoy, or don't. Whatever you prefer, just please don't insult me in the comments like some people like to do. I doubt you'd like it if I did the same to you. Have a nice day!
-PancakeSatan
Tanya kept her tone calm, yet the other woman could tell how serious she was. The blonde waited as typing and pressing buttons could be heard on the other side. Despite being a vampire, Tanya felt her body shiver as if it was cold. The snow around her whipped violently, a chilly wind freezing all who could feel it.
"Masters Sulpicia and Didyme have been notified of your call. What level of urgency is it?" Gianna asked, taking note of the call.
Tanya gripped the railing on the balcony, shattering the wood.
"Level 9." She said, her tone icy.
A pregnant pause on the other end of the phone began. Gianna had never encountered a level 9 emergency. The Italian pressed her lips together firmly, a short exhale heard on the other end of the phone.
"Are you sure it is a level 9? Which protocol?" Gianna asked, voice wavering at the possible implications of what Tanya was calling about. Gianna knew Level 9 was for things that could damage the world as they knew it. Or worse, throw the supernatural world out of order.
Tanya knew she couldn't say anything else to Gianna. She could only say one more thing to show how severe the situation could be.
"Reset protocol 1," Tanya said seriously.
While Tanya didn't like talking to the three Queens, they were of the few who knew about the resets. Tanya and her sisters never found out why or how they knew. She figured they also didn't know how. The blonde vegetarian vampire waited while the receptionist frantically texted the queens. After a moment, the young Italian woman responded.
"They'll video call you in a few minutes. Please open your Volturi-issued laptop and enter the video call app," Gianna said seriously.
The Italian woman continued her speech.
"I will delete the recording of this call and any records on it. You are not required to do so, yet it's preferred. Anything else I can help you with today?"
Tanya shook her head as she responded.
"Not at this time, thank you, Gianna." The coven leader said, polite and genuinely thankful.
Tanya could hear Gianna mumble a thank you and end the call.
The strawberry blonde took one last puff of her cigarette before putting it out and heading inside her room. Tanya's expression was weary, already showing her mental exhaustion.
'I'm not ready for this.' Tanya thought to herself, footsteps echoing on her wooden floor. She reached her room door and flipped a sign on the outside, knocking on it three times to let her sisters know she wanted the house to herself. Hearing them pause and listen to the knocks, they left the house without a word. Tanya sighed and opened the computer. While typing her password, she saw a familiar screen. Opening the browser, she entered her email and pulled up the meeting feature.
Tanya sat in her leather desk chair, adjusting the height to sit up more. She fiddled with the back of the chair so it didn't lean too far back while she waited for the queens to enter the video meeting.
Tanya's fingers tapped on her metal desk out of habit. Unfortunately for her, it was never a habit she could grow out of. It seemed that vampires always retained some human quirks, most of which they didn't need to do.
Tanya's eyes wandered around her room, trailing over the wooden bookshelf in the corner filled with books and various items. One item that always caught her eye was a painted miniature. Her sister said it was from something called Dungeons and Dragons. The blonde remembered when Kate ran to her and handed her the object. Kate was excited and immediately bought more to paint, amassing an impressive collection. Amused yellow eyes moved further along the bookshelf, glazing over various English textbooks and a teaching degree. Still not hearing the sound of the queens joining the call, Tanya continued to look around her room in feigned boredom, vaguely acknowledging old daggers and texts around her room. A sword hanging on her wall gathered her attention, her face changing to a smile when she remembered the story behind it. She still had the sword, enjoying the memory of making it and wielding it in battle for the first time. Her mom had grinned in triumph when Tanya had decapitated her first enemy.
Tanya's musing was interrupted when she heard a chime. Turning her head, she could see the queens come into view. Weirdly, all three of them had joined the call.
"Tatiyana Denali, to what do we owe the pleasure?" Sulpicia asked, polite and formal as always.
Athenadora rolled her eyes and scowled while Didyme sent her cranky wife a look.
Tanya sighed, looking weary.
"I wish I could say it was a social call, but not today," Tanya said seriously.
The thousand-year-old coven leader looked Sulpicia in the eyes.
"It's about the resets, specifically the ones who developed increasingly odd auras every time the world reset."
Sulpicia's once cheerful expression darkened, both of her wives following suit.
Athenadora leaned forward, eyes calmed and narrowed.
"There's been a new development?" She asked, her mind already working overtime.
Tanya nodded, expression still grim.
"Esme Cullen." She started, gaining the attention of the Queens.
"We've yet to meet her, Carlisle; never let her join the calls as he did with all the other family members. We had asked him if he'd let her join the calls so we could meet her, but he said no. We always thought it was because he was protective over his mate." Didyme said, her voice light and relaxed.
Tanya's expression put the queens on edge.
"I have reason to believe she is not his mate, as he claimed. Before you ask, would you mind if I tell you what I've observed?" Tanya asked, her golden eyes pleading.
The queens looked at each other, a silent conversation happening between them.
"Proceed with your findings," Athenadora stated, eager to find out.
Tanya nodded, relaxing slightly.
"My sisters and I have always been good at reading aura, especially after the resets started. What we didn't expect was finding that some people's aura changed over time. Little by little, their aura would alter. We've found this had changed their attitudes and personalities." Tanya started, pulling out a folder with Esme's name on it.
"Esme's aura started relaxing and calm, drawing many near her as she exuded motherly behaviour. Later on, she still exhibited the same behaviour. But, as she grew closer to Bella during each reset, she changed."
Tanya tried to figure out a way to describe the aura.
"If I were to try to paint a picture of it, imagine a bright blue river trickling through a forest slowly."
Looking up, she made sure the queens were imagining it before continuing.
"Slowly, her energy started to move faster, its colour changing around the edges to a light purple. Every reset that passed, this change got worse, her energy moving quicker, more violent. Compared to her previous aura, it could be considered a stagnant pool. Currently, it is the equivalent of rushing rapids, slamming itself against everything violently."
Tanya tried to find the words to describe what she saw after that.
"This is around the midway point of her aura shift. People around her started acting differently, and those she loved felt more protected.
The people she didn't like exhibited signs of fear, bordering on terror, when they were near her."
Tanya looked up, catching the queen's eyes.
"You remember Bella, right?"
The three queens nodded.
"Edwards false mate, his La Tua Cantante. The one whom he stated he loved, yet treated so terribly." Didyme said, her tone one of disapproval.
Tanya nodded, face still serious.
"Her behaviour never changed, but her relationship with Esme did," Tanya said.
"They got closer. I figured out their closeness relates to Esme's aura change. Now, Her aura is downright terrifying, and I've only felt it over the phone."
The queens remain silent, pondering.
Tanya took another deep breath.
"I have an opportunity to take a further look."
The Queens snapped their heads up, focused intently on Tanya.
"She needs somewhere to stay to avoid Carlisle. They fought, and he said something about Bella that made her react negatively. Esme, trying to stay away from him, tells me she cannot be his mate or is no longer his chosen mate. She has outgrown him, and their chosen mate bond weakened."
Tanya remained silent again, watching the three queens speak of the issue.
Sulpicia turned bright red eyes onto Tanya's form.
"Tanya, I believe I speak for all of us when I say this. Take Esme Cullen and Bella Swan in. We would like to know what happens."
Sulpicia's hands folded, her face uncharacteristically serious.
"To my knowledge, Bella Swan and Esme Cullen were not to meet so early. Knowing they met earlier now has me concerned, especially due to the vast changes we have noticed ourselves." Sulpicia said, frowning.
The two near Sulpicia nodded, Didyme speaking next.
"If need be, we'll interfere and talk with Carlisle Cullen. I feel he will be persistent in getting Esme back. He is not well known for his regard for the wishes of others." Didyme said, referring to Rosalie's change.
Tanya sighed darkly.
"If need be, my queens, I'll deal with him myself."