BPOV

Grab a glass because there’s going to be a” –

            Faster than I thought possible, even for a vampire, Aunt Izzy jumped off the couch and lunged for her purse to stop her favorite band, My Chemical Romance, from singing their little diddy as she answered her phone.

            First, I was stunned at her ringtone. Then again, she always had a twisted sense of humor.

            Second, I was curious if she’d had her purse the entire time we were in the meadow. Who brings a purse to a fight? Thinking back, she always brought a bag – a huge bag – with her everywhere we went. ‘Just in case.’ Just in case we ever had a natural disaster, I think. The woman used to carry around bottled water and canned food. I kid you not.

            Edward chuckled in my ear. “She’s always had a twisted sense of humor.”

            I giggled. “Sometimes I think you’re only lying about not reading my mind.”

            He kissed the soft skin below my ear before Uncle Alex cleared his throat and glared. “Hands where I can see them, boy.” Edward dutifully raised his hands. “Thank you, Edward, but let me fill you in on something. Bella’s my goddaughter. There are two key phrases there; God and daughter. I think of Bells as my daughter. I always have. However, if you hurt her, it won’t be God you’ll be answering to. It’ll be me.”

            I stared. Uncle Alex delivered it all with a perfectly calm face and voice without any of the humor he normally had. I was actually a little frightened. Uncle Alex had never been quite that forceful in his protection of me outside of a playground incident when I was 7 and a little boy wanted to see what I had on under my dress.

            I wonder what happened to him after Uncle Alex had his talk with him? I tried not to think about that and instead focused on my godfather. “Uncle Alex, that was completely unnecessary!”

            “Nothing involving your safety is unnecessary, Isabella,” he replied seriously.

            “Alex, stop frightening the boy,” Aunt Izzy chided as she sat back on the couch. “Sorry, honey, that was Amy.”

            “Is she still in Europe?” Alice asked excitedly from Jasper’s lap.

             Aunt Izzy smiled. “Don’t worry, she already promised to go shopping before she came home.”

            “How is Aunt Amy?” I asked. Aunt Izzy had two siblings; Aunt Amy who toured with her band, and a brother she never really talked about.

            “Great. The band had some problems when her bassist had a stroke, but he’s recovered and doing very well now. They’re doing their US tour in about a month.” Aunt Izzy glowed. She loved touring with her sister as their manager and Uncle Alex was their lawyer. “Oh and Edward, she wants a rematch when she comes home.”

            Edward chuckled. “I’ll start practicing.”

            I turned my head as far back as I could. “How do you know Aunt Amy?”

            Aunt Izzy sighed. “Well, let’s get back to the story.”

IPOV

            “Isabel, there’s someone here I think you’ll be interested in meeting.”

            I looked up from the chess game I was playing with Alex to see Marcus in the doorway to our suite. Volterra had important ‘guests’ all the time and rarely were any worth the seconds it took to meet them in the few years I’d been here. The fact that Marcus had come to my room to inform me was enough to pique my curiosity. I looked at Alex and raised a brow, which he returned, causing me to giggle. “Then let’s not keep them waiting.” I picked up my skirts carefully and pulled on my crimson cloak which showed my status in this farce of a royal family. Alex walked silently by my side. Think this is worth it? I asked in my mind.

            He made an effort to get us. I don’t think he’s setting us up for a trap. Let’s see. I’ll admit, I’m curious. Alex gave me a reassuring grin as we turned the corner to the main room. In front of Aro and Caius was a tall blonde man in his late 20’s.

            “Ah,” Aro crooned. “Allow me to introduce my niece; my brother’s granddaughter, and her husband. Isabel and Alex, this is my new dear friend Carlisle Cullen. Carlisle, Lord and Lady Alexander and Isabel Cavanaugh.”

            Carlisle took my hand and kissed it before executing a little bow to Alex. “My lord, my lady,” he said.

            I looked into his curious golden eyes. Everyone around here had red eyes save for myself. My human side had stayed in my blue-violet eyes. “Please, the title is just a formality left over from our human days. Isabel and Alex will suit just fine, thank you.”

            “Of course,” he smiled. I instantly liked him.

            “Carlisle has a certain diet that I think may fit you better than ours,” Marcus spoke up, giving the reason for our meeting.

            “Yes, our dear friend chooses to feed off animals. Isn’t that delightful!” Aro cheered. His voice held curiosity and a little censure at the same time.

            “Animals? You feed off animals?” I asked.

            “Yes. I can sustain myself off of animal blood instead of humans.” Carlisle eyed my non-red eyes and Alex’s dull crimson.

            “Are there any side affects?” Alex asked.

            “None. I am able to sustain the same as any other of our kind. I would be willing to tell you more if you are interested?” Carlisle offered.

            “Very much. Would you care to come back to our suite?” I asked.

            “That would be wonderful, thank you,” Carlisle agreed. He bowed slightly to the elders and I turned on my heel, leading the way back to our rooms, but not before giving Marcus a wink in thanks.

            “This is our suite,” I said, ever the consummate hostess as I offered a chair. I almost offered him a drink. Some human habits die hard.

            “It’s very lovely, Isabel. May I ask a question?” Carlisle asked timidly.

            “Yes,” I said, guessing his question. “I am Marcus’s granddaughter. Aro was not lying. It’s a complicated story and a very rare occurrence.” I offered no more, not yet ready to retell my story.

            Carlisle nodded. “I see,” he said. “Do you have any questions for me?”

            “How do you survive on animal blood? Do you have to feed more often? Can it be any animal? Are you weaker than other vampires?” I started shooting off questions but Alex stopped me with a gentle touch to my arm.

            Carlisle merely chuckled. “As far as my research has shown, blood is blood. Animal blood, I believe, is slightly weaker than human blood and therefore the healing process is not as accelerated as it would be were I to only consume human blood, but I have found that feeding more often balances that out.”

            “How is the guilt?” my husband asked quietly.

            “There is a little remorse at first for taking a life,” Carlisle answered. “But it is nothing compared to what taking the life of a human is. May I inquire how you feed here? Marcus seemed very interested in you meeting me.”

            “They bring us blood from humans. We don’t kill them ourselves. We would rather not feed than take a life.” I answered.

            “However, knowing it was still done….” Alex trailed off.

            “Agreed,” Carlisle said softly.

            “I believe I can speak for my husband when I say we are interested in trying your lifestyle if you would be willing to teach us how,” I said, locking eyes with Alex for a moment as he nodded his agreement before turning to Carlisle.

            “It would be my pleasure,” Carlisle said, taking my hand. It was then that I saw it. Alex, Carlisle and I were leaving Volterra, heading to somewhere away from here for good. Pictures flashed through my mind of new vampires joining us.

I gasped and looked at Alex. “Well, there’s no argument now. Will you show us how to hunt?”

Carlisle looked confused at what had happened, but said nothing. “Yes, of course. There are some places I’ve already scouted outside of the city that will do nicely, I believe.” He looked at me a moment. “If you can’t run in skirts, however, I would suggest changing.”

I nodded and went into our dressing room, leaving Alex and Carlisle to talk. By the time I came back out, the two were acting like old friends.

It didn’t surprise anyone when a few weeks later I announced we were leaving Volterra to travel with Carlisle. Marcus gave us his blessing, Aro seemed to have a hidden agenda, and Caius, as usual, was upset.  “How can you abandon your legacy?” he hissed.

I lost it then. Caius often was angry and looking for a fight and I never indulged, but at this point he’d pushed too far. “This is not my legacy! To sit here and rule over the vampire world as self appointed leaders was never anything I ever hoped to aspire to! I fell into this farce of a royal family by accident. I never wanted your ways and never accepted them. I never wanted to rule Volterra and I never will! I hope to do something better with my life than sit here and turn to stone!”

Aro gave a mocking clap while Marcus had an uncharacteristic grin on his face and Caius sat in stunned disbelief that I’d finally given in and fought back. ‘What a way to go, Isabel,’ I told myself. It was then that I felt Marcus approach me.

MPOV

“You know our place is not here,” Isabel whispered, though I had no difficulty hearing her. “Alex and I have many things to accomplish in our time here on earth, not in this pretty prison.”

I looked at the perfect face with blue-violet eyes, wiser than I could ever be. Raven hair matched my own as I touched a hand carefully to her soft curls. “You look like your grandmother when you’re determined like that.”

Isabel looked down momentarily. “You loved her, didn’t you?” she asked softly.

            I tried not to look uncomfortable. “She was perfect for what I needed. Her husband, despite appearances, loved her more. The only thing out of our union was your mother, and I loved her in the only distant way I could. Then you arrived, and I knew I had done the right thing. I loved you more than any of them from the very moment I saw you, and not because of what you were. You are perfect, Isabel, and the very best thing I could ask for.”

            I saw faint tears trickle down her cheeks and I brushed the wetness away, staring at the sparkling drop on my fingertip. “I’ve always thought you considered my mother an experiment. I’ve been with you three years and you’ve never given an indication of anything else.”

            I gave a rare smile. “How could I? If the others knew, they would surely use it against me.”

            “Will you be okay with us gone?”

“Your place has never been here, little one, I’ve known that from the first moment you changed. Do what you must, my dear, with no interference from any of us. Aro knows, as does Caius.”

            “I will miss you.” Isabel gave a smile and kissed my cheek.

            “I’m happy that you’ll have this opportunity, Isabel. You may not believe me, but this is not the life I would have chosen for you. Not that I really gave you a choice,” I said ruefully.

            “I agree, but it had to be done,” Isabel smiled secretively. Strong, pale white arms wrapped around her stomach and shoulders as she turned her face to see sparkling muddy brown eyes in the process of changing from red to gold framed by longish mahogany hair glinting mischievously as cold lips pressed to hers for a kiss. Alex had taken to hunting animals whole-heartedly and it showed. He looked much happier than I had ever seen him.

            “Carlisle says he’s ready to leave whenever you are, love,” Alex said. He released her and bowed slightly to me.

            Isabel nodded and I looked once more into the face so similar and yet different from mine, blood red eyes meeting blue violet. “We’ll visit as needed,” she said softly, so softly no human would be able to hear.

“Of course.” My voice sounded gruff. “Enjoy your time.”

            Isabel nodded, hesitated, and then hugged me impulsively. “Good-bye Grandfather.”

            I wanted to tell her how I really felt, about how she gave me new hope in this dreary place. She gave me a new reason to continue on, but I remained silent. With a wave of my hand, I bid them goodbye and Isabel and Alex left, without turning back.

IPOV

In the hall, Carlisle was waiting. “Are you ready?”

Smiling softly, I nodded as we prepared to leave the city where I had been “raised” again a few years ago. Alex took my hand. “We’ll be happier, love, I promise.”

            I returned the gentle squeeze. “I know we will.” I tapped my forehead, then turned to Carlisle. “Are you sure you’re ready to take us on? We’re fairly young.”

            Carlisle smiled. “You both show remarkable self-control. In a room full of humans, you never succumb. I believe I can trust you. It’s taken the both of you only three years what I have perfected in 100. Who knows, perhaps you will have to restrain me.” His topaz eyes glittered in amusement, his golden hair falling into his eyes.

I sighed as we reached the exit gate of the city. The walls were behind us now and the world was before us. Smiling, I took one hand of my husband and wrapped the other around my “brother” as we had decided to be to the human world. “Let’s go.”

BPOV

            “So all these years you told me about your brother, it was Carlisle?” I’d never seen pictures of him, Aunt Izzy had told me that her brother was incredibly camera shy and a very busy and successful doctor.

            “Yes,” she answered, looking at Carlisle and grinning affectionately. “He was a pest, but he took us in and taught us his ways, for which we’ll always be grateful.”

            “You still never explained Aunt Amy.”

            “Ah, yes,” Aunt Izzy said. “When we left Volterra, Carlisle told me how he expressed an interest in going to America. I wanted one last chance to say goodbye to my family from a distance. We went back to England. My last stop was to see my brother Marcus. We always had a connection as siblings and I was foolish to think it would be severed after my death. His youngest daughter Amy was very sick with scarlet fever. As I was watching from the garden, Marcus came out and started talking to me. Since I’d told him Grandmama’s story, he wasn’t necessarily surprised. He knew I hadn’t really died as our connection was still strong. Amy was dying. He begged me to save her however I could.”

She sighed. “I could never deny Marcus anything. I went back to Carlisle and Alex and together we came up with a scheme to stage the death. Amy had many of the same genes as myself and her change was only hours compared to the days that Alex’s was but was longer than mine. She took to our new lifestyle of animals very well and her control was amazing. We left on a boat to America within a few weeks, with no problems. None of us were concerned with the humans. We went to America and lived as brother and sisters for a few years. Amy met her mate about ten years later and they moved out. Alex and I stayed with Carlisle for many years, moving around, always keeping in contact with Amy. We left to explore on our own after living in Chicago for a few years and came back after he changed Edward. We left again after Esme came into the picture and visited often as we acquired new nieces and nephews.”

“Where did you go?” I asked.

“To visit our family’s descendents. The family we had that had never seen us. We became friends with many of them and left before they could tell we hadn’t aged.” She paused and looked at me. “The longest we ever stayed was when I met someone I knew we had to stay with. That became more difficult as we’ve maintained a relationship with them for the last 19 years. We’ve had to be careful, but no one has said anything yet.”

When Aunt Izzy was silent, my curiosity got the best of me. “Who was that?”

“Your parents.”