I own Nothing.
Edward POV-
Sam doesn't stay long after I end my call with Emily. I also don't bother filling him in on the conversation I had with Jacob. If Jacob wants Sam to know that there is a way to break the imprint then he can tell him. From everything Lisa had said its too late for Sam to break his bond anyways. For now the only wolves who will be able to break their bonds are Jacob and Quil.
Sam isn't gone long before Leah comes driving up in the Jeep. I knew it wouldn't take her long to find her way here once she knew we were back. If it's surprising she waited as long as she did to show up or maybe she's just avoiding the guys.
"Hey, not too tired from all your other visitors, are you?" She says as she jumps out of the warn out jeep a big smile on her face.
"Never too tired." I answer her as I follow her to sit in our garden area, that now had twinkling lights around our sitting area. "Did you do a bit of decorating while we were gone?"
"Yeah, I should have asked but I thought Lizzy would love them when I saw the lights at the store the other day." I can see she has a million things on her mind.
"They look nice, Elizabeth will love them when she notices them, I think she was too distracted picking her tomatoes earlier today. Then she went to bed early." I give Leah a smile as a silence settles over us. I can see her shifting though her thoughts, from wanting to know more about the shifters I met, to the stuff she's been reading in her book. To her most recent art project.
"So I've been reading more of my book while you've been on vacation." She finally starts deciding to talk about her book. "There is a part in the book, I read before but I wasn't really paying much attention to it until recently. The book makes it sound like while I am in shifted form I can communicate with others beyond other shifters, it says that I can extend that way of communicating to vampires, witches, werewolves and even a succubus. Would you be willing to try it with me? I mean I know you can already hear my thoughts, but I just wanted to see if it would let me hear you."
"That sounds like an intriguing experiment. Why don't you go ahead and shift so we can try it then?" I'm rewarded with a smile as she stands to walk behind some trees to shift.
'Ok so I know you can hear me. But maybe concentrate and see if you can push your thoughts to me?' Leah's wolf voice says as she walks back into the clearing.
'Testing One Two Three, can you hear me?' I say after a moment concentrating on pushing my thoughts to her.
'OH…. It actually worked!' her wolf makes me laugh as she does a bit of a happy dance.
'A handy skill. Too bad it only works in shifted form.'
'Yeah but this is still so much fun!' Her wolf is still dancing around, making me laugh.
'So did you want to know more about what happened in Alaska?' I ask after a few more minutes of watching her wolf dance around.
'I can change back.' She says but doesn't seem to want to.
'Actually I wanted to try something, since we know this works.' The wolf stops in front of me, her head cocked to the side. I concentrate on finding the right memory if I'm able to do this it will make explaining everything so much easier. 'Leah what I'm going to tell you, can you please keep it between us. It potentially could cause problems and we're already working on a solution so in the near future it won't matter anyways.'
'Between us only. Ok what did you find out?' I have her full attention as I work on pushing the memory to the front of my mind and towards Leah.
I watch my memory through Leah's mind.
~~~The Memory Edward is sharing with Leah~~~
"Tanya, I'm sorry. Most humans aren't aware when they are a succubus, they just think they can easily manipulate people. A succubus power gets passed down from their father, though males don't have the succubus powers." Cass says, thought pauses when Elizabeth walks over.
"Do you want one of my cookies. They're really good, I made them myself with some help from Grandma Esme."
"I would love to try your cookie." Cass says with a smile as she holds out her hand.
Cass just barely contains a gasp when Elizabeth's hand touches hers.'The power is faint as if she doesn't fully have it but there is a very very small touch of the succubus power in her. Not enough now to even control anyone, but its there.'
"Elizabeth, lets go play in your room some. They're just having boring adult talk." Alice says, catching onto something being wrong.
"You said that the power only gets passed down from a father. Are you sure?" I ask Cass.
"Were as sure as can be, they never have daughters. Our theory is that their power wouldn't allow them to care for a daughter, that a daughter would be seen as too much competition. From our research it seems like it can skip multiple generations. But is always passed down from the father's line." Cass had answered.
"Bella was convinced she was having a boy." Rosalie practically whispered. "She was so adamant she was having a boy even from the very beginning."
"Are you saying Elizabeth is also a succubus?" Tanya asks, catching onto what is being said.
"It is very faint." Cass answers, not sure why it would be so faint.
"A Succubus is only ever a female, they only have sons, never daughters. Bella was convinced she was having a son, she would hardly even consider that the baby could be a daughter. Bella's mind has the same whisper as Tanyas, she lifted her shield once, just a few weeks before she left. Bella didn't want much of anything to do with Elizabeth as a baby, She could hardly stand to be around her. Elizabeth is smarter than the average human. While Bella was pregnant, she figured out how to communicate with us. What if the baby could hear us all. What if the baby knew the danger he was in. If the baby chose to be female, then she could manipulate an imprint bond. Carlisle this is the missing piece. We were wondering why a young alpha wolf would imprint on a vampire child. What if this is it. What if she unknowingly manipulated the imprint bond because she knew that she was in danger. By having that imprint bond it drew the pack to want to protect her." Everyone is silent, even their thoughts.
"Her powers aren't strong enough, its barely even a drop." Cass says, though she doesn't fully believe her own words.
"But as a baby, she had her mothers blood in her. She looks to be four but she is under a year old. What if she still has that small amount of power left from her birth, what if that will diminish more as she ages?"
I watch Leah intently as the memory fades away.
'I can see why you want to keep this a secret. If the pack new someone could manipulate the bond like this, I don't know what they would do.' I give her time to sort through the rest of the information she was just given. 'Is that how it is for you, when you concentrate you can see through others minds like this? All the time?'
'Yes, I can see and hear everyone's initial thoughts all the time, I can't see ALL their thoughts they've ever had. Just what they're currently thinking, it used to be exhausting. But I've become accustomed to it.' I watch her intently as I wait to see what Leah will say.
'I can see why its not too hard on you to live out here with just Elizabeth, all that noise all the time must be so exhausting.' I can see the conversation shifting back to the information I gave her right before it happens. 'It does seem to be the most logical thing, because none of us could figure out why Jacob would imprint on a vampires child. I also agree with you I don't think we need to test the pack to see what their response would be if they learned that you all now think Lizzy had enough of her mothers power to manipulate the bond…. So Bella, you think she was a succubus? I guess that would explain how she manipulated you and Jacob to fight over her attentions.'
'Our theory is that unlike with Tanya I couldn't read Bella's mind, I never saw that shadow in her mind, not until after, when she lifted her shield and just for a moment. Even after I didn't know what it meant, not until we met Cass. She does say Elizabeth doesn't have enough power to manipulate anymore. So that's not something we have to worry about going forward at least. Jacob was here earlier tonight; we talked about the bond. He admitted that he wants to break it. I don't know if he's noticed but Elizabeth used to call him her Jacob and try to stick like glue to him when he was around. Tonight, at dinner she didn't even have much to say to him. She was nice to him, but it was a different reaction than what she used to have, I think the bond is already weakening.'
We continue to talk about everything that I had learned while away. Only stopping when the sound of a storm rolling in caused Leah to decide to shift back.
"That was so cool." She gushes as we walk onto the porch as rain begins to fall.
"The skill can be useful that's for sure." I comment as we sit together, the transformation Leah has gone through these last few months have been amazing to watch. She went from a bitter woman to a stronger confident woman. Much of that I believe has to do with the fact she's broken away from the pack. It wasn't easy on her to hear and feel Sam all the time and the disdain some of the boys had towards her over the drama of their Alpha Sam's imprint. "So have you been working on any other fun ceramic projects?"
My question makes her smile. "I've been dabbling here and there with just little things. I can't wait to start school and get back into some classes. I'm so rusty on some of the techniques."
We talk off and on the rest of the night.
As the sun rises Leah announces that she does have to get home and leaves before Elizabeth wakes.
"Daddy what's this?" Elizabeth asks looking at the wedding invitation I had placed on our fridge.
"We've been invited to go to Sam and Emily's wedding next month." I say as I plate up her breakfast.
"OH that means I need to get a new dress to wear! Can we please go shopping daddy?" Alice has been influencing her way too much. Elizabeth has a closet full of clothes, but I could tell we'd be going shopping for something new for the wedding.
"Yes princess we can go shopping today in Port Angelas if you'd like." Shopping really isn't my thing, but the smile Elizabeth gives me will make the trip worth it.
Elizabeth finishes breakfast in record time and rushes to go get ready to leave.
"I'm ready!" Elizabeth says just as I finish getting myself ready to go. She's so excited that she practically dances out the door and to the car. I've been with Alice and Rose enough times to Port Angelas that I do know of a few dress shops to take Elizabeth to.
Our drive doesn't take long and soon enough I'm parking and we're entering the first store. Elizabeth looks beautiful in each dress she tries on, but she keeps turning them down. We're on the third and last store in the area as she tries on dresses.
"Daddy this is it!" She says, smiling, spinning in a circle. The pale-yellow dress flowing out around her."
"You look amazing Princess." We pay and leave. The smell of food flows our way, making Elizabeth's stomach growl.
"Oh Daddy that smells good." She says as she follows the scent, trying to figure out which restaurant it's coming from.
We're a few doors down from a pizza place when three women step out from a shop right in front of us.
"Emily!" Elizabeth says and runs to the young woman, causing all three to look our way in surprise.
"Ladies, its good to see you." I say, walking slowly towards them.
"Lizzy, Edward. Its great to see you both." Emily says as Kim and Rachel also say their own hellos.
"We have been shopping for a dress for me to wear to your wedding." Elizabeth says after she finishes giving hugs to the three women, then moving back to my side.
"I'm sure you'll look like a beautiful princess." Emily exclaims a smile forming on her face.
"Thank you. We were about to go get food. I was following the scent…" Elizabeth is still talking, but I push my attention elsewhere as malicious thoughts reach me and a sense of danger pulls my attention. I want to look around, the average person automatically looks around when they sense danger is near, but I don't instead I scan the thoughts around me even more, trying to locate the danger. I'm aware the woman have noticed my strange behavior, but I don't have time to worry about that as I narrow in on what I was searching for.
There in an ally across the street two vampires are standing, blood red eyes practically glowing that I'm surprised the humans around haven't noticed. They're hunting, I can see that now. They haven't notice myself of Elizabeth yet and I carefully pull her around me, where I am blocking her from their vision as much as I can. Then I realize who they are hunting.
"She's my singer." One whispers quietly to the other. His thoughts filling with Emily's face. This is the worst-case scenario. We recently learned that vampires can find multiple singers if they look and some vampires have become addicted to hunting down all the humans who are singers for them. Their blood tasting stronger than that of any other humans.
"Edward? You're starting to scare us. What is it?" Emily's voice finally catches my attention. She can tell something is wrong and if there is something that is worrying a vampire she knows she should also be worried.
"Are any of the pack around?" I don't have time for this, two to one aren't odds that I like when we're in the middle of a city with so many innocent humans around.
"Leah was supposed to be meeting us, but she's running late. What's wrong?" Emily's voice sounds demanding this time. I'm not sure how to explain all of this to her.
"Don't look but there are two vampires across the street. Emily your blood is singing to one of them. You need to stay calm but we need to leave my car isn't far." I don't like this situation. Too much can go wrong, and the three imprints will die if we don't get out of here.
"What?" "No we can't" "Um…. Singing?" They all start to talk at the same time that their minds explode with questions.
"There's no time, but they aren't going to leave you alive." We're wasting too much time. The vampires are getting ready to come over. Still unsure what I am as the wind had shifted.
I can see Emily is about to argue when my phone rings. I answer without looking at it, I know it's Alice. She would have seen this, she's always looking for the family being in danger.
"Walk to the car NOW." She says loud enough the humans can hear her. "You have to go now Edward there's no time. Where is Leah? Someone call her. Why aren't you moving. GO NOW."
"We leave now, come with me please!" I put a bit of force in my voice, the monster within me rising to the surface due to the impending fight. I'm close to grabbing Emily and dragging her to the car at this point. Rather scare her and ask forgiveness later, if we survive that is. I'm not sure if it was Alice's command or mine but soon enough the three women nod and we all quickly but not running get to our car. I let Elizabeth buckle herself as I get in and start the car right as the doors close.
We're speeding down the highway quickly as my phone connects to the car. "Alice talk to me where are we going?"
I can hear the women's thoughts wondering exactly what's going to happen, but they stay silent. Understanding the situation we're in.
"The car isn't going to outrun them Edward." Alice says
"Alice, I know that, give me something useful."
"Someone call Leah, we need to get her close. She needs to be able to intersect." I notice Emily pulling her phone and calling Leah before Alice is even done with her request. The other two have their phones out, frantically calling the pack and leaving voicemails for everyone they can.
"I know, I'm late Em, I'm sorry. I'll be there in…"
"Leah we're in trouble." I say cutting her off. "Where are you?"
As soon as she names the road she's on I hear Alice take a deep breath. She doesn't need to say it I know. She's not close enough not yet. We're in trouble. More trouble than I want Elizabeth near. Without help the chances of any of us walking away alive diminishes greatly.
"Speed up Leah you're close to a side road, pull off to it and leave the Jeep to shift. Once you shift run as fast as you can towards the Salmon Cascades." As Alice gives Leah directions, I push my car to go even faster as I spot a side road. Looks like we're going off roading, I know how to get to the Salmon Cascades at least. Hopefully that will get us close enough to Leah.
"Elizabeth, listen closely, when we stop I want you to get out and run as fast as you can to Jacob's house. If you concentrate, you will be able to feel your way there. Don't stop until you're safe with Jacob you understand?" I'm aware that Alice is done talking to Leah and is now yelling at me. She doesn't like the decision I've just made. I don't like it either, however I can make sure Elizabeth survives. I can make sure not to abandon the helpless humans to die.
"OK Daddy." Elizabeth says, understanding in her voice. This isn't the first time we've had a discussion like this.
'Edward maybe you should take her and leave.' Emily's thoughts ring in my mind. I can see it how scared all three of them are. I can't walk away, the moment I walk away from them they will know their fate is death. They've been unable to reach any of the other shifters. No one else was coming, even if they were coming they're not close enough. Leah may not even make it in time. I know Elizabeth would be well taken care of without me. But If I left now I would hear and see the last moments of the three women. How would I explain it to their imprints. How would I ever look Carlisle in the eye again, I would be a monster if I just completely abandoned them to the fate of death. There was still a chance if I stayed. It's small but it is there, we just need Leah to hurry. This isn't the first time I've faced off against two vampires.
"Edward it's too close. I don't like this; the outcome is not guaranteed. Edward it's too slim, she's still too far away." Alice is yelling through the phone, I'm well aware at what she isn't saying. Our survival all depends on Leah making it in time. I had made my decision; I would die with them or I would live with them. All the futures Alice is now seeing is tied up to that. My decision hasn't waivered, it won't.
Leah had gone silent on her end; I hope that means she has shifted and is currently running in our direction.
All too soon I run out of road.
"Stay close together with the rock wall to your backs." I found a small rock wall and blocked a part of it with my car. "Elizabeth which direction do you feel Jacob?" I nod when she points in the correct direction. "Good, you run as fast as you can to him. I love you Princess."
'I love you Daddy.' She says through her thoughts, trying not to cry. She is so strong for such a young child.
As soon as the car stops she is crawling over Kim and running. It only takes her a moment to get out of my range, she got her speed from me at least.
"Emily your blood will not help the situation. So drop that train of thought." I say quickly also getting out of the car. She had been thinking about the tribal story about the 3rd wife and about the story Seth has told about Bella. Last thing we needed was for her to try that while I'm outnumbered.
I could still hear the vampires hunting us, inching their way closer. They were curious about my motives. My sunglasses are blocking my golden eyes, so at least they don't know I'm any different than them. I let them stand beyond sight, grateful for any amount of time they give for Leah to get close. I can hear her now, though she's still a few miles away.
'Edward?" she screams, I can feel that connection that we had tried out just last night snap into place.
'Leah, you're close. They're here just watching for now, you're going to have to swim through the creek. No one was able to reach any of the other shifters. Can you reach them? Can you connect to them?' I know none of the other pack members will get here in time to help. But they need to know what's going on. 'Leah they aren't going to walk away. Emily is one of their singers. He will not stop unless killed.'
I can feel when Leah understands what I'm staying. She's remembering the fight Seth had alongside me when we were protecting Bella from the newborn army and Victoria.
'I'll be there soon.' She tries to sound confident, but I can see she's not sure about her words even as she says it.
I can hear my phone ringing like crazy in the car. It's Alice, I know it's Alice. But I can't talk to her right now. Especially as our new friends start to walk towards us. I move to keep myself between them and the humans.
"We don't want to fight with you." The slightly older one says. "We'll even make you a deal you can take two of them with you just leave that one there, the one with those scars on her face."
I can hear Emily's thoughts, she's about to accept. She didn't want to be the reason any one else dies.
"NO deal." I say loudly. They wouldn't have kept their deal anyways; I can see it. But I can also see that they've never fought another of our kind. They also don't have any useful gifts that they have thought about at all. So at least for now I have a hand up.
I react a second before they move using the advantage of my mind reading and my extra speed I grab the one closest to us, the one that sees Emily as his singer. I used my momentum to throw him into his companion. Sending them both flying back. I know I won't win against the two. I just needed to buy us enough time.
Leah is getting closer I can hear her only a mile out now.
My two opponents decide to try to go in opposite directions to get around me, I push myself to move as fast as I can to intercept one of them then the other.
Half a mile out now. Leah is getting closer.
She'll be here in about two minutes. I can do this for another two minutes.
This time they decide to attack me directly and together, I'm only slightly able to avoid them. I'm barely keeping myself between them and the humans. One wrong move and one of them will get past me. It will be all over then.
Quarter of a mile left, just over one minute longer.
They move to attack again, this time I'm not fast enough to push them back and one is able to grab my arm. His teeth sink into me, pouring his venom into the bite before I'm able to dislodge him and toss him into his companion. This time I toss them into the river. The battle isn't won yet, but relief comes over me as I see Leah peak over the way.
We don't need to speak words. I open my thoughts to her just as I have always had access to hers. This way of fighting is nothing new to her as with the pack they would fight based off of their packmates moves. What is new is the fact that I'm able to share our opponents' thoughts with her, this fight just became winnable as we're both able to anticipate each others moves and our opponents moves.
We make quick work of them, fighting beside Leah as easy with her new found ability to communicate with others like this. It feels like it takes forever when in reality it only takes five minutes for us to outsmart our opponents and tear their heads off.
No words are spoken as we throw their bodies into a pile. I'm quick to grab a lighter from my car and light our pile.
It's only after that's all done that anyone speaks.
"Thank you." Emily's voice is strained. Now that the fighting is over I can concentrate on other things. I turn my attention to the three women; they're all shaking a bit. But none of them look to be going into shock or anything. I can tell now from their thoughts that none of them have ever come face to face with any vampire outside of my family. They had never seen anything beyond the carefully sculpted show my family puts on. Yes they all grew up on the stories. But none of them have ever seen a fight like the one we just had.
"Leah do you want to shift? Alice had been very insistent that I should carry spare clothes in the car just incase. I doubt she saw anything like this happening though." I'm already reaching into the trunk to pull out some clothes for her and then two pairs for the wolves I could hear making their way towards us.
'Sam everyone is ok. I'm going to shift. We'll wait for you and Jared to get here.' Leah sends to Sam as she grabs the offered clothes and walks away to change.
"Sam and Jared are on their way. They should be here in about ten minutes." I let the women know. Watching them, assessing them. Looking for any hint of fear. Glad I don't see any. I'm also glad that I'm wearing sunglasses. After such an intense fight I know my eye have gone black. I can feel the burn on hunger push up, I'll need to feed before going to get Elizabeth. I just need to hold the hunger back for a few more minutes.
Next I grab my phone. I don't even bother looking at how many times Alice has called, or Carlisle, no the only number I care about this moment is Jacobs.
50 missed calls from Jacob Black
I hit dial almost a little too hard as my phone almost cracks under the pressure. I loosed my grip as the phone rings.
"Edward?" Jacob answers before even the first ring is done.
"Yes, we're all ok. Did Elizabeth make it there?" Since I had so many calls from him I assume Elizabeth has made it there, I just needed to know for sure that she is ok.
"Lizzy is perfectly fine, she is a bit worried but is playing with Claire. I'll go grab her." I can hear Jacob call to her, telling her I was on the phone.
"Daddy!" She yells. I assume she's grabbed the phone from Jacob as I hear him remind her to be careful with it.
"Everyone is ok Elizabeth. I'll be coming that way soon ok. You be good." She says a quick bye to me and then Jacobs voice comes back on the line. He's whispering but I can hear him clearly.
"You didn't expect to survive that, you sent her my way to get her out of danger." His voice is harsh. As if he can't believe I would send her alone.
"I know we're working on breaking the imprint. But I needed her to get to safety. I have to go Jacob, but I'll be there soon to get her. Thank you." I hang up as Leah joins us, the women had all stayed silent. Their human minds trying to process everything and the adrenaline rush they all felt washing away.
I pull my jacket off as I find a bottle of water in the trunk.
Water won't take all the annoying pain out of the bite on my arm but it will help some.
That done, I pull my phone back out debating on if I should call Alice or Carlisle first.
One ring,
Two rings,
"Edward?!" Alice answers, I can hear how upset she is. Though I also know she knows I'm ok. She would have seen Leah arrive. "How dare you do that to me! I can't believe you did that. Edward that was way too close." I listen as she berates me for the worry I caused her. About how much the future had changed with that one decision I had made.
"I'm sure I will see you soon Alice, you've let Carlisle know we're ok?" I can hear Sam and Jared clearer now. They're only about a mile off.
"Yes Jasper is on the phone with him now also. We're all heading your way, how can we not after all that?" The anger is back in Alice's voice.
"We'll see you all soon. I'm about to go get Elizabeth, I had her run to Jacob." I say, though I'm sure Alice knows this already. After this scare she is going to be watching my future extra close.
'Edward are you ok?' Leah asks concerned noticing the bite mark I had washed out.
"I'm fine Leah, thanks to you for arriving when you did." We all stand there in silence all coming down from the adrenaline rush. I'm monitoring the women's thoughts and also the thoughts of the incoming wolves. At least Leah was able to let them know the danger is passed. So they're not running up in anticipation to fight.
The wolves hardly even slow down as they come running up. Sam checking over Emily for any injury. Jared doing the same with Kim.
"Sam, Jared, there's some clothes for you here. Curtesy of Alice telling me it would be good to always have something for you in my trunk." They both say a quick thanks as they grab the offered clothes to go change. I can tell they don't want to let their imprints out of their sight, but the need to be human does outweigh that need. Just barely.
As soon as they're shifted and dressed Emily and Kim waste no time running into their arms, tears finally pouring down their face. The relief of their wolves showing up allowing them to let all their worry out. After a few minutes Emily wipes her face clean and gives Sam a quick kiss before turning towards me.
"Edward what is a singer?" She asks breaking the silences that had settled over us. "You said I was one of their singers?"
"Your blood called to him, more than the average human's blood does. It's addicting and near impossible to ignore. Some vampires purposely look for and hunt their singers. That's what one of them did. He recognized you as his singer and once he spotted you he wasn't going to let you live." I explain.
"He would have attacked even in the middle of town? With others around?" Emily was trying to make sense of all that just happened.
"He wouldn't have minded how many humans were around, he wouldn't have cared how many humans he would have had to kill. All he would have cared about was killing you, getting your blood." I'm trying to pick my words carefully, I don't want to scare her. But she does want answers.
"Singers are always killed by the vampire?" Emily asks.
"Normally always yes. From the knowledge we have only one singer has ever survived meeting the vampire who their blood sings to." I'm being vague on purpose. I don't want to get into too much of the Bella was my singer part. I didn't want any of them to know that I had meticulously planned out how I could have killed a whole class of innocent teenagers just to get a taste of my singers blood.
Thankfully Emily drops her train of questions.
Neither Sam or Jared have been able to speak yet. Though through their thoughts they've both thanked me.
"Sam why don't you and Jared take my car and drive the women back home. Elizabeth's car seat can go into the trunk." I can see they're about to argue but they also don't want to leave their imprints.
"The Jeep isn't far, I can give you a ride Edward." Leah says as Jared moves the car seat.
We say our goodbyes to the others as they load up in my car and drive off.
I follow Leah in the direction of the Jeep.
"You're more tense than normal Edward." Leah comments when I stop short of getting to the Jeep.
"Thank you for the offered ride, but" I pause for a moment.
"But you need to hunt. I've noticed that you haven't taken those sunglasses off. Your eyes are black aren't they. That fight got your adrenaline going and now that its crashed you're hungry." Its not a question.
"I'm going to go hunt real quick before getting Elizabeth. I'll see you back at the reservation soon."
"Happy hunting." Leah says as she continues on towards the Jeep.