Chapter 9

Leia POV

The war was going well enough for the Alliance yet it did not feel that way for Leia. On the one hand they only had three heavily injured people from the skirmishes. Jared and Paul who fell back to the reservation to lick their wounds and Esme had lost an arm, though that was quickly reattached with only a big scar to show for it. On the other hand, nearly a dozen newborns lay dead. Sightings of the battles had been kept to a minimum thanks to the efficient teamwork of the Denalis, taking out the newborns as quickly as possible. Still, five people had died to the thirst of the attacking vampires and another six went missing. Carlisle and Jasper had pulled some strings so that the witnesses that had been brought in by the police for questioning had to undergo an examination. It was an easy matter to fake the blood test results then and claim the witnesses all had traces of a hallucinogenic drug in their blood stream. This started an investigation of where exactly that drug came from. They'd have their work cut out for them inventing some kind of drug gang they could blame for the deaths but with the Chief of the police missing, the department was severely understaffed. They'd brought themselves some time but they'd have to end the war as soon as possible.

That Charlie had been caught in the crossfire though felt like a personal failure to Leia.

With communication down, the Alliance had resorted to putting at least one wolf with every team they send out so they could rely messages telepathically. This made Alice' talent all but useless. The pixie-like vampire had grown frustrated anyway though. Vampires in Maria's chain of command randomly changed their minds in a way that just wasn't natural, even for someone who knew to avoid becoming predictable. It was as if they were acting on completely different sets of information from one hour to the next. By this point it was more hindrance than help to try and figure out what they planned.

In the early evening, a scouting party found the coven's base in Port Angeles and within half an hour a frontal attack was started that saw five more vampires dead. Maria vanished right in front of their eyes together with three other vampires in a plume of black mist.

They did manage to save Charlie. He was... not unhurt but un-bitten. He was also cursing the Cullens for being monstrous killers and supposedly brainwashing Leia, the Quileute for being traitors to their race and gave Leia a terrible 'I'm so disappointed in you' look for siding with them.

It was horrible.
The Denali's insisted Charlie had to be killed or turned now that he knew about the existence of vampires. They had zero desire to invite the wrath of the Volturi because of this. That almost made the pack attack them, lead by Jacob who knew Charlie to be his father's best friend. Charlie absolutely did not want to turn of course and threatened he'd kill them all if they tried. Jasper was arguing that this was exactly what Maria wanted, to divide them, sow disunity and wage war against them psychologically. It didn't help to know this though. The problem was still real.

Leia was sitting on the front porch of the Cullen house. She simply couldn't take it anymore, the screaming, the shouting, the constant arguments. She felt personally responsible to what had happened to Charlie. He wasn't her father, not really but it wasn't the first time he'd been put in danger because of her. Novel-Bella had always managed to protect him, to keep him away from all this. Why couldn't she do the same?

The former princess heard footsteps behind her and turned around to see Edward approach and sit down next to her. He looked serious and tired.

"How bad is it?" she asked quietly.

Edward sighed. "Jasper managed to keep him calm enough for me to question him. We've discussed what we found with Eleazar. He thinks he was able to identify a talent that could be responsible before he vanished with Maria and the others."

"So they did mess with him. It's not just Maria being a conniving liar", Leia said neutrally.

"Maria was always a convincing liar. But no, it's not just that. They've added memories that weren't there before and muddled others. Given enough time, I think I can talk him through everything he thinks has happened and help him identify what's real and what is fake. But it's... difficult. Chief Swan is unusually resistant to mental probes." He shrugged apologetically. "I always thought he was a bit simple-minded. He has an odd habit to think in pictures rather than words too. If he turned now, he could develop a real shield and then it would be even more difficult to help him. That's probably the only reason they haven't turned him yet either. They weren't done re-programming him yet."

Leia nodded. She'd told Edward about Bella's shield before of course and how she suspected it was connected to why Charlie's thoughts felt different. But the rest of their allies in the house didn't need to know that.

"Maybe..." Leia took a shuddering breath. "Maybe it's better to go ahead with my turning earlier then."

"What? No, why would you think that?" Edward protested.

"Edward, Maria and her coven are after me, aren't they?" she said miserably. "If they capture me... I have no mental protections whatsoever. I couldn't even do what Charlie's done. If they can change memories... if they can look into my head, if they can take you away and put something else in there... They could make me like Jasper like that." She snapped her fingers. "I can't risk that. If I'm a vampire, it would be harder for them to disrupt our bond, wouldn't it? Because we'd be true mates? And you could probably detect any messing with your head better than anyone." She leaned her head against his shoulder and Edward wrapped his arms around her.

"You know that was always my greatest fear. My one reason to not go through with it. I don't ever want to be a vampire that is anything like Maria. I'd rather die."

"It won't come to that. I'll protect you", Edward swore and wrapped his arms around her. "Everyone here, we'll protect you."

Leia sighed and dropped the matter. She was too tired to argue and not very keen on actually getting bitten anytime soon anyway. Even if it would be the strategically sound thing to do... She was only 18. She didn't want to be 18 forever. She felt like a cake that wasn't completely done baking yet. She wasn't ready to be eaten.

Edward groaned and buried his face in her hair. "Please stop comparing yourself to food, love."
"You know that's not how it works, don't you?" she asked with a small smile. Now that he'd pointed it out, Leia remembered her father, her real father Bail Organa and how he'd lovingly called her 'his little crumb' as a small child. She'd had such a sweet tooth then. One day when she'd finally grown big enough to reach the sweets jar, she'd proudly declared: "I am a crumb no longer. I am a cookie!"

Edward stifled a laugh and hugged her tighter.

"I'll make sure you get the chance to be a proper cake", he promised.

They sat together in silence for a few moment longer. It was the first peaceful moment in what felt like ages. Together they gazed up at the stars and Leia blinked when she saw one tiny light speed by.

"A shooting star", Edward commented with a smile. "That means you get to make a wish."

"It's just a stone being vaporized in the atmosphere", Leia replied.

"Probably an early one from the Leonids meteorite shower", Edward agreed. "Still, you should take the chance. The next one won't be until the end of November next year."

"It's a silly superstition", Leia said and leaned back to face her boyfriend. "But I know what I'd wish for", she smiled and kissed him on the lips.

Eventually, the door opened and Jasper stepped out.

"Bella?" he asked carefully and Leia reluctantly freed herself from Edward's embrace to turn towards him.

"Charlie still hates our guts but I've calmed him down enough for him to listen", the vampire reported quietly. "He understands the importance of the public not learning about our kind and has agreed to cooperate with Carlisle's plan. We... We can't keep him here any longer."

Edward scowled. "Charlie needs our protection. If we leave him alone they'll just try to grab him again."

"We need him to return to his post and calm the citizen. Hold a press conference, read a statement, spread the lie", Jasper said. "We can leave a guard with him but we can't lock him up here."

"One guard won't be enough! They have a teleporter with them!" Edward protested.

Leia laid a hand on Edward's arm and shook her head. "Jasper is right. Charlie has a duty and the way he is now, he won't want to be locked up anyway."

"But..." Edward made hesitantly.

Leia closed her eyes with a sigh, focusing on her thoughts. 'Charlie is dear to me, even we're not blood related. But I know duty and I know responsibility. So does he. Forks is his home and he has the right to do whatever is in his power to protect it. We have to hide what happened here or the Volturi will come and wipe out this entire town.'

Aloud she said: "I'll try talking to him again. Edward and I can go with him to the station and he can stay with us tonight. Tomorrow... We'll worry about tomorrow when it's time."

Jasper gave a stiff nod and stepped aside. Edward gave her hand a squeeze before he let go and Leia walked back into the house.

Charlie was being kept in Edward's bedroom (which lacked a bed and looked more like a music room). Leia approached him alone, though Jasper and Edward would remain nearby to watch over Charlie's mood and thoughts.

The chief looked haggard and tired, with bloodshot eyes and his hands trembling. He looked small and sad as he sad there on the couch and Leia felt terrible for being teh reason he was like that.

"You should eat something", Leia said, noticing a plate of untouched sandwiches nearby.

Charlie scoffed. "I'm not in the mood for eating. Not after everything I've seen."

"Fair enough", Leia muttered and sat down next to him.

"I don't get it!" Charlie called out suddenly and turned towards her. "He's a monster. You've been with him this whole time and you knew!"

"Edward is not a monster", Leia repeated tiredly. They'd been over this before.

"He eats people!"

"Not anymore. I told you - those memories you have are false. The Cullens-"

"They have killed. All of them! Don't pretend otherwise!"

Leia opened her mouth but closed it again. It was... It was true after all. Esme, Alice and Emmet all had accidents. Rosalie had killed for revenge. Even Carlisle had technically killed people, namely the ones he turned. And Edward and Jasper...

Leia had grown up under the banner of the Empire. She'd seen her fair share of battlefields. She'd killed dozens of troopers herself. Sometimes, it just happened. Sometimes, it was necessary. Earth wasn't a peaceful planet but war had never touched Forks before, not for a century or more.

"I... I see these people as... as alien, in a way", she tried to explain quietly. "They come from another world. A world with different rules where killing is a necessity and humans are prey at best and enemies at worst. Yet this group, the Cullens, they've travelled to our world and they've adapted to our way of living. If they were human, I would agree with you, dad. If they were human they'd need to be locked away for having such dangerous desires. But they're not. They are dangerous and powerful and immortal. We are so much weaker than them, dad. The ant doesn't negotiate with the boot. The best we can do is support them in this wonderful decision they've made to be more like us."

"If you can't beat them, join them? Is that what you're saying?" Charlie scoffed.

"Maria and her coven are despicable. And I would fight to my dying breath against them. The Cullens might not be innocent but they do have good intentions. They offer a way how our species can co-exist peacefully. That is something I can join. I love Edward and I want to be with him. But I will retain my humanity."

"What about my humanity? Huh?" Charlie asked. "Are you going to ask me to become a monster too?"

"I'm never going to ask you for that. If the offer is being made, it will be up to you and only you whether to accept it or not. There are ofther forces, other coven more dangerous than the Cullens or Maria that will kill you and all of us if they find out about you. If it comes to that, I very much hope you stay with me. But I will not force you if you chose differently." She squeezed his shoulder gently. "One battle at a time. We have to make sure we save Forks first. Nobody must know about the vampires living among us. It would put everyone here in danger. You have to help us clean this up."

Charlie sighed and rubbed his face. "Fine. Fine. I don't like it but I'll do it if it protects the people."

"Edward and I will stay with you at all times, at least until tomorrow. I... I won't ask you to be nice to him but please just don't make any more death threats, okay?" she asked.

Charlie looked sour. "Can't really make death threats to a dead man, can I?"

"I mean it, dad. Please, for me."

He sighed again. "Fine. For you."

XxX

The next morning Charlie Swan held an official press conference. His statement also went out in written form in the local newspaper and read as follows:

"Ladies and gentlemen of Forks,

In light of recent events, I feel it is important to address the concerns and confusion within our community. It has come to our attention that several incidents occurred which may have left many of you feeling unsettled and uncertain.

After consultation with medical professionals, including Dr. Carlisle Cullen from our local hospital, we have determined that these events were likely the result of a rare and localized gas leakage. This gas leak, caused by the release of hallucinogenic substances from an illegal laboratory, may have induced temporary hallucinations and altered perceptions in those exposed.

Furthermore, it has come to light that a drug gang from Seattle is responsible for this incident and has been using Forks as a testing ground for a new hallucinogenic drug. The drug, when released into the air, can cause disorientation and vivid hallucinations, leading to the bizarre events witnessed by some members of our community. We have five confirmed cases of manslaughter caused by members of this gang trying to cover their activities.

As a precautionary measure, I urge everyone to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary exposure to the outdoors, especially during the night. The safety of our citizens is of utmost importance, and we must remain vigilant against the activities of this dangerous drug gang.

Rest assured, the Forks Police Department is actively investigating this matter and working closely with law enforcement agencies to apprehend those responsible and ensure the safety of our community.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.

Sincerely,

Charlie Swan,

Chief of Police"

XxX

"We've got a problem."

It was Jacob that delivered the sombre news. Leia and Edward had stayed there to watch over Charlie as he did his best to do damage control. Jasper and Alice remained nearby as backup. When Edward caught the thoughts of the young wolf approaching, him and Leia met him in the parking lot in front of the station and the other two vampires soon joined them for an impromptu war meeting.

"What's happened?" Jasper asked urgently even as Edward's expression already darkened from reading the thoughts of the paler than usual Quileute.

"They took hostages. Some of the leeches must've slipped through during the last attack. We had two missing by the time we were done counting by midnight."

"You didn't find any...?" Jasper trailed off.

"No dammit, we didn't find any bodies!" Jacob snapped. "They took them alive! They could still be alive - the chief was, wasn't he?"

Edward looked regretful. "Chief Swan's case was special. They would've killed him immediately or turned him if not for his resistant mind."

"They have Leah!" Jacob snapped. "We thought there were only two but it was actually three - Seth found his house empty when he returned. His mother was driving around town like crazy looking for them and Leah - Leah was just gone! And now Seth is gone too - he didn't show up for pack meeting and I went to his house and I found this!" He trust forward a scrawled note. Leia's eyes flew over the letters. It looked like someone had offered Seth the life of his sister in exchange for his own.

"It's a trap. They're going to kill them both", Jasper muttered.

"Of course they fucking will! Which is why we have to kill them first", Jacob snapped. "I ran here as fast as I could. Sam is gathering the pack. We'll attack their base and this time we're going to wipe them all out!"

"We still don't know how to prevent them from simply teleporting away", Jasper warned him. "We need to plan first, come up with a strategy-"
"You do your fucking planning, I'm going after them now!" Jacob protested. "I just told you so you can follow after. If we even leave anything for you!"

"I have to agree, the more time we loose the better for them. This address is outside of Fork", Leia said, pointing out the meeting point that Seth had been ordered to. "If it's a trap, let's spring it. Let's take the fight to the enemy."

Jasper and Edward exchanged looks as if communicating with their minds.

Alice said quietly: "I won't be of much use as soon as the wolves are involved. You can go ahead without me, I'll head back to the house and gather the rest of the Alliance. Try and hold back on attacking for as long as possible."

XxX

Edward POV

The whole was a complete disaster. Edward cursed the entire wolf tribe to the nine hells and back. The entire plot was an obvious trap, wrapped in a ploy with a nice sprinkle of schemes on top.

By the time Jacob, Edward, Jasper and Leia made it to the enemy's base, Leah's dormant shapeshifting gene had activated. Only the vampires had had plenty of time to use their brainwashing on her. Leah had attacked Seth on sight when he came to rescue her. The young wolf was nothing but a bloody mess on the ground by the time they arrived, his head cradled by the same vampire Edward recognized from Charlie's memories.

There hadn't been much time for strategy or planning so the fight quickly turned into a mess, five newborns attacking the group at once. Leia managed to paralyze three at once long enough for Edward to rip them apart. Jacob held off the other two. They had agreed that Jasper would be the one to take on Maria, counting on their shared history to keep the female from escaping.

The vampires had made their camp in a warehouse that stank of fish, disguising their scent. Leia supported the fighters from the back, throwing around crates and barrels with fish and smashing them against Leah and the occasional newborn vampire. Maria didn't stand a chance against Jasper in close combat. She knew that though and she was far too shrewd to fall for his taunts and goading. Then suddenly she was gone in a flash of black mist. Jasper roared in anger. Him and Edward teamed up on the remaining newborns and made short work of them.

"Where is she?! Where has she gone?!" Jasper shouted at a male after they had him dismembered on the floor.

"The tunnels - the sewers - it's their backup hiding spot, please don't kill me!" he begged.

Wordlessly Jasper drew a lighter and threw it onto the remains. Then he turned to look for the nearest manhole.

Edward turned back to help his mate. The man he recognized from Charlie's memories, the brainwasher had fled but that was something they could worry about later-

It was just a split second. One moment Leia stood tall and proud, forcing gravity to press the struggling shapeshifter to the ground. The next there was a cloud of black mist appearing right to her. He could make out the vague shape of a woman with long flowing hair and malicious red eyes. The next moment they were both gone.

"NO!" Edward shouted and rushed forward. His hands grabbed nothing but thin air. For three seconds straight he just stared at the spot where his mate had stood, chanting 'nonononono' in his head again and again. Then a very large, very pissed off grey wolf lunged at him.

XxX

Leia POV

There was no warning. No opportunity for negotiations. No time for her to orient herself, to draw her blaster. Leia managed to Force-push the vampire who grabbed her from behind away from her, making her crash against the wet, slimy wall of what looked and smelled like a sewer. She heard an unfamiliar voice mutter:

"You better be worth all the trouble."

Then her head was yanked back at her hair from someone standing behind her and she felt the piercing sting of fangs in her neck.

Just like that, her life was over.

Pain rushed through her neck as if she'd been stabbed with a huge knife. Leia cried out as she was roughly pushed to the ground, landing in a disgusting mud that filled her mouth and nose as she face-planted into it. Through hazy eyes she could see Maria, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth and looking at her as if she was no less disgusting than the sewer water.

"We have to move", she snarled at the other vampires surrounding them. "Take her and let's go. Mario, you know what to do."

"Yes Ma'am", the lone male vampire said went to pick up Leia, who was writhing on the ground in pain by now. Leia recognized the others too - Emily, the vampire they'd met in Texas and the red-eyes beauty that had teleported her here.

"You're done for!" she cursed hatefully, desperately holding her hands to her burning, burning neck. "The Cullen's won't let you get away with this. Edward won't let you get away with this! You already lost your army, you LOST!"

"Oh my dear little mouse", Maria said and gave a mocking laugh. The male, Mario, had slung Leia over his shoulder and Maria approached her, cupping Leia's face in her pale hand. "You think I care about a couple of pawns? I can make a new army any time. I have my right hand, I have my precious talents and soon, I'll have you. Nothing else is important. I got exactly what I came for."

"I'll never work for you!" Leia spat at her.

"Yes", Mario's deep voice sounded from right next to her ear. "You will. I'll make sure of it."

Maria smiled at her sweetly and Leia paled.

It was hard to think through the pain, so very hard but she remembered now. She remembered her fears and her worries and she realized just what kind of situation she was in. Unless Edward came rushing in to save her in the next ten seconds or so to suck the venom from her wound, she'd turn into a vampire. Mario would do to her what he'd done to Leah, what he'd tried to do with Charlie. He'd take and twist her memories, turn her love into hatred and twist all her morals until she was a willing slave to Maria. She'd become a monster.

She'd become just like Vader.

Leia couldn't allow that to happen. No way - no way - would she allow that to happen. But the venom spread and the pain grew and it was so hard to think beyond MAKE IT STOP! She'd do anything to make it stop. Anything.

Xx

Bella POV

Running as fast as they could, Luke and Bella emerged from the mine shaft together. The precious green crystal was heavy in Bella's pocket and she wished she already had a lightsaber to put it in. She had no wish to hurt anybody but a lightsaber could be used to block and defend as much as it could be used to attack. She really could use a shield right now.

They entered into a great cavern filled with discarded mining equipment and broken machinery. In the middle of the debris, Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi were facing off against each other, one blue lightsaber clashing with one red in a fierce duel. Vader was brimming with power, each strike almost forcing the old Jedi to his knees. Yet Bella could tell that he was holding back, a lot. Vader's usual fighting style, which she'd seen in use only a few times during training demonstrations against a few dozen droids, usually also involved a lot of stuff thrown at his enemies through the Force. He couldn't risk something like that in an unstable cave. Obi-Wan on the other hand fought differently from the last time she'd seen him face off against the Sith Lord. He looked less... tired, less willing to just let fate catch up to him. It was no wonder, he had a padawan to protect now. It was still clear though that he was past his prime and he couldn't match Vader in spirit.

When he saw them, Obi-Wan called out to Luke, using the fake name he'd made for himself: "Biggs, no! The escape route - take her and RUN!"

Vader gave a roar of anger and pushed the Jedi away from him with the Force, holding out his hand and causing the old man to get thrown against the far wall. Bella internally cursed the stupid idealist for trying his best to ruin all her hard work. Why did everyone always insist on being stupid and pissing off the Sith Lord?!

Next to her Luke grabbed her arm and for a moment their eyes met. He looked... uncertain and was making no further motions to force her to come with him.

"Leia", Vader called out then, ignoring the old Jedi for a moment in favour of focusing on her. He held out one leather-clad hand towards her, the other one holding the red lightsaber lowered to the ground. Bella... felt it, felt the Force wrap around her, felt his grip on her. If he wanted to he could simply lift her off her feet and levitate her towards him. Yet... He didn't. She felt his power thick around her. Underneath all that fierce determination and that anger... She could feel his vulnerability. He needed to know what she'd choose.

Bella smiled at him, sad but reassuring. She would not abandon him. That had never been an option. He needed her too much.

Bella stepped towards him.

Luke didn't stop her and she loved him for that.

Her fingers had not yet quite slid through Luke's grasp when suddenly, out of absolutely nowhere, a terrible, white hot pain ripped into Bella. It felt as if a burning dagger was rammed into her neck and given a good twist. She gasped, too shocked to even scream for a moment and her hand flew reflexively to her neck.

The pain didn't stop. Instead it buried deeper. Bella stumbled, fell onto her knees and the pain still didn't stop. And then she screamed.

Bella was on fire. The pain got worse and worse. She clawed helplessly at her neck, ripped off her cloak, screaming incoherently as she was burned alive. She could see Luke's panicked face as he leaned above her and she shouted at him, shouted for help, screamed at him to make it stop! It didn't stop.

Then Luke was suddenly gone and Bella twisted and turned around and writhed on the floor alone. The pain was spreading on her neck. It was horrible. Skin peeled back and raw flesh salted and acid burning and - Vader's shiny helmet appeared above her and she could only whimper.

"Help me."

Vader was saying something. She could barely hear him, barely make out any words through the hot white pain. He was asking what was wrong. Why she hurt, how she hurt. Couldn't he see that she was on fire?!

Cold leather hands carefully pried her hand from her neck where her nails were scratching her neck bloody, trying to stop... the liquid... fire.

Suddenly Bella understood. Suddenly she knew exactly where that pain came from. She had, after all, had awful lot of time in captivity to combat boredom. She'd finished reading the Twilight saga many weeks ago.

This was exactly how the pain of the turning was described in the books. It was impossible of course - vampires didn't exist in Star Wars and she certainly hadn't been bitten by one -

But Leia was threatened by vampires over in Forks. And nobody could deny there was some kind of bond between Bella and Leia. If Bella could instinctively summon Leia's ghost in her time of need... Then what would happen if Leia, in her hour of greatest need, as she experienced unimaginable torture, reached out along that bond to her?

A black pit of despair opened up in Bella. She didn't think Leia was doing this to her on purpose but it hardly mattered. Unlike Leia, Bella would not wake up from this nightmare as a supernatural immortal creature. Her body wouldn't become stronger and regenerate and become capable of withstanding anything short of a nuclear bomb. Pain of this magnitude would simply kill her.

"Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP! SOMEBODY KILL ME NOW!" Bella screamed, equal parts in pain and panic. She couldn't take three days of this. There was no way she would be taking three days of this! Somebody - anybody -

"Father! Father, please! Please kill me! Make the pain stop!" She managed to focus her eyes on the black lenses hovering above her, just long enough to hopefully convey that yes, she was absolutely serious, before the pain overwhelmed her again and she could do nothing but scream bloody murder. It was too much. Bella couldn't even find the strength to pity Leia, couldn't wonder how she'd gotten bitten or whether her experiencing this agony was just an echo of the other girl's pain or if she was made to suffer in her stead. It didn't matter. The pain was so great she would've done anything, said anything to make it stop. So she did. She fought and clawed against her own flaming nerve ends, fought to focus on Vader, on what he was doing, what he was saying. He was her best hope at stopping this pain. He had to help her. She would do anything, say anything to get him to kill her. Anything.

XxX

Mario POV

A flash, a feeling of nausea and Mario staggered forward, barely catching himself from falling. He'd never get used to Melissa's teleportation.

At least Melissa didn't look much better. Anyone who said a vampire couldn't get exhausted had yet to see one of their own use their gift excessively past their limits. Melissa's face looked haggard and sunken and the hands that grabbed his forearm were trembling slightly.

"You're at your limit", Mario said quietly, suppressing the urge to glance behind him where Maria stood, impatiently tapping her left foot.

"I'm fine", Melissa grit out and let go of him, ready to flash back to where she'd left the turning girl.

'I know I'm not fine, you don't have to tell me. I've never teleported more than ten times a day and never so many times shortly after another'.

Mario send out the thought like a fishing hook, letting it bury into Melissa's mind ad wriggle its way into her brain. It was not true. Just days before Melissa had teleported all over the place during their attack on Forks. She'd been exhausted afterward, true, but she could do more than this.

'The last time I did this much I bloody fainted. I didn't even know vampires could faint. Maria was so disappointed. That can't happen to me again or the Cullens will kill me.'

Melissa stiffened as the foreign thought invaded her mind. She looked warily at Mara and tried to stand a bit taller, hiding her weakness.

"What is it?" Maria snapped at her.

"Nothing, Ma'am", she said.

"You have to take care of yourself", Mario repeated quietly. He didn't look at Maria, which made it much harder to aim the following thought at her.

'She looks exhausted. I can't risk loosing such a precious talent. Her last jump was already way shorter than we planned. Damn it, we're going to have to walk the rest of it.'

It was a huge gamble, using his gift on Maria. Mario had been caught doing it twice and both times the punishment had been... severe. But he'd gotten better. He'd learned more about his coven leader, how she spoke, how she thought and this helped him tailor his invasions to her thought patterns. He'd managed to 'erase' both of his previous mistakes from her memory so she remained of the belief that his loyalty was absolute. It was fortunate that he was deemed too precious a talent to execute over a 'first time' offense.

Maria scowled, but not at Mario, at Melissa.

Mario suppressed his own sigh of relief at having gotten away once again.

"Well then get Emely and the girl. You can do that much, can't you?" Maria asked.
Melissa slumped a bit bot nodded defeated.

"It'll be the last jump. These tunnels are a labyrinth and their noses won't help them find us here."

"Yes. Thank you, Ma'am", Melisa made relieved and flashed away.

Maria turned to Mario. "How much longer do you need with the girl?"

"If I don't get constantly interrupted because of the teleportation, fifteen minutes should do it", Mario answered. "She has no defences against me."

After they'd fled the warehouse and Maria bit the girl, Mario had done a cursory check on the human. He'd twisted just the most important parts to make sure he would be the last person she ever turned against. This included enhancing her relief and added some gratefulness about the fact that her father, even while he grew suspicious of vampires, had still loved and cared for her. He grew the seed of hunger for power and powerful allies, ensuring that if it ever came to it, she would petition to spare him. After all, Mario put his own survival above all else. There wasn't much time to look for much else. He took notice of the strong love she felt for one of the Cullen boys and a flood of memories that looked like a weirdly strong obsession with Star Wars. But Mario was no mind reader on par with Edward Cullen. He could only glimpse impressions and sometimes, given time and a lot of concentration, a memory or too. He still needed to prime his target with words, make them think about a certain subject so that his inserted thoughts would feel natural. Maria was a great help in this but that also meant working on her was the greatest challenge.

Melissa returned with the human, unceremoniously dropping the thrashing body into his arms. The girl - Bella Swan - fought against the gag they'd forced on her to keep her quiet, shouting and crying and cursing into the piece of fabric. Mario put a hand on her forehead, intently staring into her eyes and fighting against teh burn in his throat as the scent of fresh blood rose from the puncture marks at her neck.

The girl was screaming her thoughts at him. She bombarded him with pain and misery and desperation. There was no coherent thought there but he got the gist of it - she would much rather die than work for Maria. He dove deeper, trying to look past the pain. She was crying for help. She was grasping at straws. But she wasn't calling for her mate... she wasn't even crying for her parents. She was calling for her... sister?

Suddenly a thick fog rose from the corners of the girl's mind. like the arms of a kraken they enveloped her and Mario withdrew instinctively lest he be trapped. The next time he tried to probe her mind, he was met with a smooth wall. Well. That... complicated things.

Another flash and the noise of stumbling footsteps. Melissa had returned with Emely in tow.

Mario's head snapped around, meeting her eyes.

'Why the hell am I always the last one? I was at Maria's side long before those two showed up. Now I'm even less of a priority than the fucking human!?'

He sent out the thought almost automatically, having worked day and night whenever the opportunity arose to sow discontent in Maria's ranks. It was too ineffective, too slow going with the newborns, whose every thought was swallowed up by rage. But he allowed a tiny smile to curl around the corners of his mouth when Emely scowled at Maria annoyed.

"We're too bloody slow, Maria! They'll catch up with us in no time and that bitch is going to lead them straight to us with all her hollering!" Emely complained, gesturing towards Bella.

"We only need to escape them long enough for Mario to do his work", Maria reminded her sternly. "Then we'll dump the girl and watch form a safe distance as she destroys her own coven for us."

Mario hurriedly grasped onto Maria's thoughts, changing their last interaction, then glancing at Melissa to do the same to her.

"I told you, I don't know how long I'll need for that. The girl has even stronger defences than her father", he 'reminded' them. He nudged Maria's thoughts again, inserting a memory to support his lie.

Maria scowled unhappily. She glanced from Melissa, who thought herself to be more exhausted than she actually was, to Emely glaring mutinously at her, back to Mario, who quickly turned his attention back to the human and pretended to work.

"in that case, we're going to have to split up. Emely, you go with Mario. My dear Jasper will surely come after me and the mindreader will follow his mate. Keep the girl hidden and keep her safe but if you can't convert her before they catch up to you, kill her. We'll meet again in Seattle in four days", she decided.

Mario grit his teeth. Of course Maria would keep Melissa by her side and gladly throw the rest of her coven to the dogs with no way out. He looked up and straight at Melissa.

'Damn, I'm too weak. I can't jump anymore, not with another person, if I try it'll rip me apart! If it comes to that... I'll have to leave her behind...' He send the thought at her rather forcefully, stoking her fear and watched as Melissa flinched in fright. Quickly, he followed it up with something more reassuring:

'She'll never forgive me. If she survives. But I'm a fucking teleporter, if anyone can run from her it's me!'

Melissa relaxed a big and nodded her agreement at the plan.

Maria narrowed her eyes at Mario and if he were human, he'd have broken out in sweat. Did Mario notice his interference? Did she suspect him?

"Oh and Mario? Don't even think about trying anything", she warned him sweetly. "With a talent like yours, nobody is ever going to trust you. If you don't want to end up a slave to the Volturi or burned on a stake for all the violations you already committed against the Olympic Coven, you need my protection."

"Of course, Ma'am", he replied submissively. With another warning glance, Maria turned away, Melissa in tow. Mario followed them with his eyes till they picked up speed and let another few seconds pass till Emely told him to hurry up already. Only then did he adjust the weight of the human on his shoulders and follow her down the sewer tunnel.

It was the first time since he'd joined the coven that Mario was being left alone with only one guard. Granted, Emely was at least seventy years his senior. Mario had only been turned four years ago. It was uncertain how a fight between them would play out. Even if he did manage to overwhelm her, as long as Maria lived he would never be save. But Maria too only had one guard with her now, one that was primed to abandon her no less. There was a real chance the Cullens would kill her. If they did... Then Mario would finally be free. He just had to survive his own encounter with the Cullens. Luckily though, he had a hostage. As for Emely... Well, they had a very long walk head of them. Plenty of opportunity to twist Emely into an ally of his rather than Maria. Surely that was a much better use of his time than trying to get through that annoying fog the human had developed while turning.

XxX

Vader POV

A dark platform, cold air and a foreboding, artificial red light somewhere in the distance. Vader knelt on the ground, right arm missing, only cables sticking out of the stump. His daughter stood tall before him, wielding a red lightsaber. His lightsaber.

Her eyes were like two yellow chips of ice, staring down at him with cold hatred.

"You should've killed me when you had the chance, Vader", she spat at him. "I won't give you another one."

She swung the saber around but her attack was clumsy and Vader's reflexes were honed by years of battle. He swivelled to the side, one leg hooking underneath his daughter's, bringing her down. She yelped and fell, raising her hands to push against him. He answered with his own attack, holding his own as the hilt of his familiar weapon slapped into his left hand.

"You are not my daughter", he said coldly, holding the blade to her throat.

"Yeah well, thank the fucking Force for that", she spat back at him.

The blade came down with a hiss. Leia's eyes were narrowed hatefully right till the last second.

...

Vader held his daughter's hand so tightly her bones were starting to creak. If it pained her she didn't notice for the girl was still thrashing from some kind of other agony that he could not find the source of.

"Leia... please tell me what's wrong! How can I help you?" he begged her.

But his little girl had no answer for him. She just continued to scream, fighting against his hold as is she was on fire.

"Kill me", she whimpered in between her screams, eyes half-focused. "Father... Dad! Please kill me, please make it stop!"

"I can't", he whispered back even though he knew that wasn't true. He knew the longer his little girl was in pain, the weaker his resolve would grow. And if the vision he'd had just last night came true... then even if he did hold out, even if he held himself back till her pain abated, his daughter would still be lost to him.

"What's wrong with her? Why is she in pain?"

Vader turned his head slowly to look at the boy. That boy, Kenobi's padawan who'd snuck behind Vader's back to approach his precious daughter. On any other day he would've gladly cut him down. But right now, both him and even Kenobi himself were so far down his list of priorities it wasn't even funny. Neither of them were the least bit important while his daughter was suffering.

The boy looked anxious, worried. A bruise was forming on his arm, from where he'd landed roughly against the floor when Vader had Force-pushed him aside in his haste to get to Leia. His right hand was curled around the hilt of a lightsaber - a terribly familiar one. He stood in the perfect position to strike down Vader, who was kneeling a his daughter's side, ignoring his surroundings. Yet he kept his weapon deactivated and made no motion to attack him. His attention was only focused on Leia, sharing Vader's single-minded focus.

Behind the boy, Darklighter if he remembered the reports correctly, Kenobi managed to crawl to his feet from where Vader had left him.

"Vader... What have you done to her?" the old Jedi asked. He sounded... tired.

"It is not me!" Vader hissed, deeply offended and maybe even a touch hurt that he'd be accused of such a thing.

"It is the Emperor... it has to be. He's trying to hurt her to get to me... I just don't know how!"

Leia started whispering: "It hurts... it hurts, make it stop..." over and over again. Vader half picked her up, hugging her limp body to him.

"Hold out, my dear. You have to fight it, everything will be fine..." he whispered back. His heart broke seeing her like this and his desperation rose with every whimper that escaped her lips. How, oh how could he help her? Weeks of visions of just this sort of situation and yet he'd gotten no closer to solving the mystery of what was wrong with her.

"She... She has to be taken to a medical facility or... or something!" Darklighter said. Where in the galaxy had Kenobi picked up that one? Vader could feel how strong the Force was in him but he couldn't help but feel a stab of derision. The boy looked eerily similar to how Vader had appeared himself as a boy. Was Kenobi that desperate to replace him, to right his supposed greatest mistake? It was laughable... and so not important right now.

"No", Vader said roughly in answer to the boy's demand. In half the visions he'd had, she'd died in a medical facility. That sort of thing wouldn't help her. Ultimately, what killed her...

An idea sparked in his head then. A terrible, horrible idea that he knew he would regret the moment he allowed it to blossom. But it was... one thing... he'd never tried before.

Vader raised his head, reluctantly averting his gaze from his daughter's pained expression to look at the boy.

"You... What does my daughter mean to you, boy?" he asked harshly.

The young padawan stiffened, regarding him warily.

"She... She's my friend. I care about her, a lot."

"Even though she is Sith spawn?" he spat, remembering vividly his own padawan days when he'd joked together with other young boys about being heroes and killing Sith Lords.

The boy's eyes narrowed defiantly. "I don't care about that. Leia is Leia."

Vader nodded slowly. That... would have to be enough.

It cost him a ridiculous amount of willpower. In the end though, he did it.

Vader let go of his daughter.

He laid her back on the ground, carefully, stood up and took a step back.

"She is not safe with me. Not any longer", he admitted pained, not looking away from her. "Take her with you. Take her to the Rebellion or wherever you think she'll be safe." He moved his head slightly, glaring at the boy menacingly. "I entrust her to you. Only you."

Darklighter looked shocked for a moment. He caught himself quickly though and gave him a serious nod. There was something like a sense of understanding between them.

"I'll take good care of her", he promised and knelt down to pick up the trembling girl.

"Whatever you do, don't let her die", Vader replied icily. "If I find her to be anything but in perfect condition the next time I see her, you will wish I killed you today. I will find out what makes her suffer like that... and I will stop that bastard from hurting her, no matter what!"
That was all he wanted to say. That was all he could say. A tiny part of him raged that it was wrong, that he shouldn't trust the Jedi, that they were enemies- But he had no choice. He'd known that she wasn't safe with him for a long time, at the latest ever since that assassin had managed to get through to her. Leia had even said it herself, that the only safe place for her in the long run would be with the Rebellion: As long as the Emperor lived, Vader could not keep her safe at his side. But it wasn't just that. Vader couldn't remain at his daughter's side if he wanted to find whatever was ailing her. He couldn't care for her, couldn't hold her. And if he did... if he did, his weak heart could not take her cries for release. If Leia remained with him, he would kill her, if only to stop her suffering.

Letting her go might very well be the only way to save her.

Vader turned around and made to leave and with every step he took away from the light of his life, his future grew darker. Leia was all that had held him up. She was all that was good and joyful and happy. She had reminded him what it was like to be human. The prospect of returning to his old life, to his cold Star Destroyer and his missions and reports and battles without her to look forward to every day... Just the thought of it was torturous.

"Vader", he heard his old Master call after him, that stupid old man who didn't know how extraordinarily lucky he was that Vader didn't feel like killing anything today. He ignored the old Jedi, struggling to take one step after another, each meter of distance he put between himself and Leia a battle of will.

"Anakin!"

He froze.

Something... Something in his heart broke, hearing that familiar name called out by the man he'd once called brother.

Vader turned his head just a tiny bit. Just to check out of the corner of his eye, if his old Master would come at him lightsaber swinging or something equally stupid.

Kenobi hesitated. He wet his chapped lips with his tongue, looking pained and a little lost.

"I... I'll help to take care of her. She'll be in good hands, don't worry. Anakin..."

'Her eyes were like two yellow ships of ice, staring down at him with cold hatred.

"You should've killed me when you had the chance, Vader", she spat at him. "I won't give you another one."'

Vader closed his eyes, trying to push away the stab of pain and the memory of his most recent vision. He wanted to be hateful, spiteful, hurtful. He wanted to hiss and spat and tell Kenobi that he had no right to use that name on him-

But he just nodded and kept on walking away.

Kenobi was dead to him.

Padmé was long dead and buried.

But Leia, Leia was still alive. That was all that was important now. He would do whatever was necessary to keep it that way.

Even if that meant letting her go.

XxX

Jasper POV

In the dimly illuminated sewer tunnels, Jasper and Jacob, each exuding their own formidable presence, moved with a lethal combination of strength and grace. Jacob, in his imposing wolf form, prowled alongside Jasper, his keen senses on high alert.

This was the day. For decades Jasper had run from the woman who made him. He owed her a lot. Without her he wouldn't be 'alive' today, would've never met his Alice. But all the torment she made him go through, the atrocities she made him commit in her name... he could never wash all that blood from his hands.

From the shadows emerged two figures, Maria leading the way with a predatory smirk, while Melissa trailed behind, her exhaustion evident even before the confrontation began.

Maria wasted no time in directing her taunts towards Jasper, her voice dripping with malice as she sought to undermine his resolve.

"You were always one of my best talents, Jasper," Maria sneered, her words cutting through the tension-filled air. "Yet seeing you now, weakened by that disgusting diet those fools made you adhere to, it truly is a shame. Do you really believe you can deny your true nature? You were born to be a predator, not some pathetic excuse for a vampire."

But Jasper remained steadfast, his golden eyes flashing with defiance. "I've found a better way to live," he retorted, his voice tinged with conviction. Without a moment's hesitation, Jasper and Jacob launched into action, ready to face their foes head-on.

Melissa, her once formidable demeanour now overshadowed by exhaustion, watched the unfolding confrontation with weary eyes. She made no move to join the fray, her only thought focused on escape. Jasper sensed her hesitance, increased but and nodded towards the great wolf at his side to engage Maria in combat.

"The mutt and the dirt-eater, what a combination! How far have you fallen, boy?" Maria mocked them.

Jacob gave a growl that reverberated through the entire tunnel. He lunged forward, his massive form a blur of fur and muscle. Maria, caught off guard by his ferocity, stumbled backward, her arrogance momentarily faltering.

Meanwhile, Jasper seized the opportunity to press his advantage against Maria, his movements a blur of speed and precision. Despite her taunts, he remained focused, his determination unwavering.

"What are you waiting for, do something!" Maria shouted at Melissa, lunging towards her. In that moment Jasper let out a wave of pure fear. Melissa's eyes widened in terror. Not a second later there was a swirl of black mist and suddenly she gone. Maria stared at the point where her only remaining ally had stood. Be it the abandonment, the realization of her position that finally sunk in or simply Jasper's gift; when she turned back to the duo, her eyes were wide with fear.

With a final, decisive strike, Jasper's hand closing around Maria's throat with lethal force. Her head came off like the cork of a bottle and Jacob's fangs buried into marble flesh soon after.

Maria cursed and twitched on the ground and Jasper took a moment to simply enjoy the sight.

Jacob transformed back, scrunching up his nose at the smell of the sewers.

"Hey, you got any fire?" he asked his unlikely ally.

"I always carry fire with me", Jasper said darkly. He pulled not just a lighter but also a small silver flask from his pocket, pouring the strongly alcoholic smelling contents over the pile of limbs. He'd been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"Always."

XxX

AN: I've debated with myself for a long time how Vader would react to Bella sharing in Leia's bite-related pain. It's such a repeat of the Padmé situation and bears such potential for exploitation. The pain is described as so agonizing the victims plead for death. And to do that for three days straight? Without knowing what caused it? Without the promise of immortality following up? Yeah, I don't think Vader could take that. In terms of character development, it's an immense step forward for him to let his loved one go, even if it is to save them. To give them to the Jedi no less! And Luke, well, Luke hasn't yet gone though that loss and he had Obi-Wan to keep him grounded and Vader promising that he's working on 'doing something about it'. So Luke would actually try to keep her alive where Vader wouldn't. This is also about the only way I could see how Bella got out from under Vader's 'protection', now that she pretty much stuffed him full of candy. I also am really proud of how that last scene looks visually - Vader just walking away when Obi-Wan calls him Vader, but reacting to the name Anakin for the very first time in decades. That really shook up Obi-Wan's world, let me tell you.

I have one more chapter finish but I'm starting to run out of ideas. I think I'll slowly start heading towards the end of this fanfic, building towards some kind of grand finale. You get three guesses how that's gonna look.