Elemental Goddess  
by wizardtho


Chapter 43: Air- Revisited

BPOV:

I sat down in front of Peter in the grass at the bottom of the steps. Jasper took one side of us while Char took the other. Peter wrapped his arms around me as Jasper and Char both held a hand, leaning into us. It was quite comfortable being wrapped up in my mates.

When everyone was seated, Jake came out of the treeline to lay at our feet. The other wolves were stationed around the inside edge of the back yard. "Edward, when Jake gets the picture of the faces in his mind, please take out those photos and bring them to me. Sue please hand the photos to Edward. Jake, as soon as Edward is ready, you can begin."

Edward nodded to Jake a second later. One by one, Edward laid out five pictures for the ones that were at the other sites, then said aloud, "I need the ones that we took out. Tanya."

Edward pulled another picture from the pile. "Emmett," another picture, "Alice," another picture, then a final picture for the one Edward killed. Nine intruders in all, but we had info on each one.

Edward handed me the nine photos, so I flipped the pile over to see the backs. I noticed the dates. They were all a few months old. Not one of them was older than 3 months or younger than 1 1/2 months. These were some of the older disappearances, but not the oldest.

I held them out to the elders. Since Charlie was closer, he handed them to Sue. "They were all between 1 1/2 and 3 months old. Some of the older missing cases, but not the oldest. I'd venture to guess that this was her second batch turned. Does the timing fit with the other case files, Dad?"

He looked at me with a nod. "The oldest missing cases are 5 1/2 months old. I think the first batch ended with the four month olds. There was a whole month before the missing cases started up again. That would make the 1 1/2 to 3 month olds the second wave. Then there was about a half a month break before it started up again."

I thanked him, then said, "She didn't send her youngest, because they are least likely to follow orders. She didn't send the oldest, because they must be the most trained and willing to follow. She's saving them for the battle. She's probably looking out for any gifted ones, making them her prized pets. Indulge them, and they want to stay. She's able to keep them from fighting with the others, and to keep the gifts close. She has to have someone older to help her keep control, but who? Dad, who was the oldest missing case?"

Charlie looked through the photos. He pulled it out, handing it to me. Riley Pierce. Five and a half months old in vampire terms, and 23 years old in human terms.

I felt a sudden recognition. He was one of the ones who tried to hurt me in the alley in Port Angeles. My voice came out in a shaky breath, "Edward, look."

I turned the photo. He gasped as his eyes widened. Jasper, Peter, and Char all asked what it was. I responded, "This is one of the men that tried to rape me that night in Port Angeles. The night Edward saved me. This is her second in command. She's sick. Disgusting. How did she even find out about that? My gut tells me she did, that he was chosen on purpose. Shit. That was the night I bought the Quileute legends book in the bookstore. I had to sign the receipt. It got dropped during the incident. He had the fucking receipt. He knew my name... but how did Victoria even know about the whole thing?"

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath to calm down some, when a vision flashed through my mind. I gasped, my eyes still closed as I watched the images flash in front of me. "She was in a bar... fuming over a drink about the loss of James. Riley happens to be sitting next to her, and he pulls out the receipt from his wallet. He runs his thumb over my signature. Victoria sees it as she catches my scent on it. She asks him about it. He's so drunk and she's so tempting to him, that he tells her the truth. She lies to him, tells him she wants to help him get me. He can have me to himself if he helps her. He agrees, so she tells him they should leave to plan. As soon as they get to his car, she bites him. She drives him to an old warehouse in Seattle. Abandoned... nothing around for miles."

The vision faded as I opened my eyes. Everyone looked shocked. Jasper said, "Another vision?"

I nodded, then my mates curled tighter around me, trying to shield me from the world. Charlie looked shaken. After a whole minute, he asked in a broken voice, "Bella... did..."

I looked straight at him. "No, Dad. I swear he never got the chance. Edward saved me before his grabby hands got more than grabby. He didn't get the chance to rape me. I'm okay, Dad."

Charlie took a shaky breath and nodded, holding onto Sue tightly as she soothed him. She needs to be with him when I tell him about Phoenix. He'll need her comfort.

"Dad, will Sheriff Jackson still keep you in the loop about what's going on if you're taking a leave?"

He smiled. "Yes, Princess. I'll tell him I just needed time off from Forks, but I still want to consult on the Seattle case. Speaking of which, when should I go to the station and the house?"

I thought about it for a second, then said, "I think the best time would be when we stop this evening for dinner. You and the elders can go to the house first, then the station, and onto the rez. You'll have a whole training group of the wolves to guard you that way. Since the elders will need the protection too, if they wish, we can send some of the vampires to help. They can head back once you get to the treaty line with the last training group. I think that would be the safest way to do it, Dad."

Charlie nodded, then I looked to the elders. Billy agreed, "Yes, that would be the safest for everyone, and your vampires wouldn't be vulnerable on the way back... but are you sure you can handle another two rounds today, Bella? You gave us all quite the scare more than once today, and have gone through so much since your sleep this morning."

I smiled in reply, "I know Billy, but I won't be able to call it quits for the night in the middle of the battle. I really feel like I need to continue. Plus, you'll be going back when we stop for dinner, so the last round will give me a chance to sit and learn what the pack and family are learning. They know what the whole pack does from the mind link, but it will be the first time they put it into practice, so I could learn a good deal. At some point, I'm going to have to learn hand-to-hand while using the elements. I won't be able to just stand there on the battlefield. This will be a good way for me to ease into it. Gather the knowledge now, which should help when the time comes for me to practice it. The time is drawing very near for my turning, and I'll only have a month to practice putting all of it together before the battle."

The elders all agreed as my mates kissed my shoulders and spine. Jasper breathed into my neck, "Are you alright? Your feelings are stable, but I haven't felt you well since the incident."

I closed my eyes, realising my shield was not allowing him complete access. I must have done it instinctively with the pain from the alarms. I concentrated, breathed him in slowly, willing my shield to allow him access to my every cell again. I smiled when I felt it work, then looked at him.

I kissed him, whispered softly, "I'm sorry. I didn't realise I had closed you out partially. It must have been instinctive with the pain from the alarms. I'll try not to let it happen again. I'm really okay now... and the prayer I said during the energy build seems to have worked. I know I'm packed to the brim with power right now, but I don't feel full. I just feel a little above my normal level."

He smiled, "I feel that now. That's a good thing. Normally you'd be either makin' earthquakes and tornadoes right now, or in an episode with this amount of energy begging to get loose. It's welcome but different to see you so calm and stable right now. Can I ask you something, Darlin'?"

I smiled and said, "Anytime, Cowboy."

I ran my fingers through his hair as he said, "What made you need Major earlier?"

I remembered the feelings very well. Jasper caught a glimpse of them before I said slowly, "I will tell the three of you, but can you hold that question until we can speak to the elders? They need to know, too, but I don't think I'll be able to explain it more than once. The feelings are still too raw."

He nodded, looking a little concerned. "I won't go into another episode, Jazz. You'll be right there to ground me while I tell you all. You can stop me at anytime, or help out my emotions when you feel they need it. I'll be fine with you three there."

He conceded the point as Jake howled to call shift change a few minutes later. He came to me, laid back down near my feet, then I leaned forward to scratch his muzzle. "Hey, Jake. You tired?"

He barked a laugh, but then gave me his serious wolf eyes. Just as I was going to ask about it, Edward and Alice sat down with us, so he said, "He's worried you're pushing yourself too hard with everything that happened today. We all are. Everyone has thought it at least once, though not many will risk your wrath by admitting it out loud."

I smirked at Jake, playfully ruffling the fur between his ears as I said, "You silly pup. Jasper, Char, and Peter can feel my every emotion right now. They would have totally squashed my idea for only sitting the last round out if I wasn't fine. I have too much power running through me right now to let you feel me, but if Jasper wants to project it to Edward, you can see for yourself. Edward would you be willing?"

He nodded, so Jasper said seriously, "I have to work everything in one at a time, so I'll let you know when you have it all full strength."

He agreed, then Jasper started letting my emotions flow to Edward. About two minutes into the transfer, Edward whispered awed, "So much power flowing... so much energy... emotions are so pure... they're not clouding together. How much more?"

Jasper laughed while explaining, "We're only halfway there, Brother. They're a hundred times stronger than they were when the family felt her emotions from singing. Power boost, Man."

Edward looked at Jasper with wide eyes, "Only halfway? No wonder she said Jake couldn't take it. His body wouldn't be able to handle the full amount."

Jake snuffed and rolled his eyes, but I said, "Jake, really. I'm the fucking goddess herself, yet I had to pray for nothing to go wrong during the energy build. I would be in a full blown episode with every element right now if my prayer hadn't worked. There's only been one other time that happened, and it was when the goddess in me completed the physical transformation. When I woke, the power flowing through me forced a combined element episode. Hours, Jake. Hours, it took to get me back."

He nodded solemnly, then I heard Jasper say, "You got it all now."

Edward slowly closed then opened his eyes. He took several deep breaths, then said, "Jake, she is completely stable. I'm not used to it, so I feel out of sorts, and there's so much power... just flowing... constantly moving... but her emotions are as stable as when she started singing this morning. There's no difference, other than the immense amount of energetic power."

He motioned Jasper to let him go from the feelings. I could tell when he was out, because Edward's face dropped slightly, then he took a deep breath. "Thank you, Edward. I know that couldn't have been easy. These three are used to feeling everything from me, but for someone who doesn't feel it constantly, it can be quite a shock to the system."

I tugged the tip of Jake's ear playfully before asking, "You believe me now?"

He barked a laugh, giving me a wolfy grin with his tongue lolled out. "Jake I can't ride right now, and you know it. I can't just snap my fingers to get out of this dress. It's connected to the goddess' energy, as well as the earth's. It's part of the package.”

Edward laughed, "He wants to know if it's against the rules to put booty shorts on under the dress to protect your... hmm... sensitivity... from being seen."

My eyes went wide. "Christ, Jake! Language! And you shouldn't even be thinking of my sensitive anatomy!"

Everyone burst out laughing, but Jasper said, "She's right Jake, but so are you. Will it work, Darlin'?"

I shrugged, "I don't know, but we can test the theory. They'll need to be green, though, and I don't..."

Alice cut me off smiling, "I have a pair of stretch cotton gym shorts in that exact color. Come with me."

She threw me over her shoulder, running me upstairs in a heartbeat. I hadn't been in Edward's room since before we broke up, so I hadn't seen the changes yet. There was more color, a huge bed, sketches on the wall, Edward's music compositions on his desk, and a generally softer feel to the room now. It stung a little, but I tried to let it go.

Alice popped into the closet and back out in less than five seconds. She handed me small stretchy shorts in the exact shade that I was wearing. I slipped my sandals off, then slid the shorts on. I took stock and felt no different. I felt like I was getting an internal thumbs up.

Cool. Maybe the dress doesn't have to stay on, as long as I wear this color. I looked internally for the answer, getting another internal thumbs up. "Alice. Can you get this color fabric in mass amounts?"

She smiled widely. "Sure. Several companies make this color. I can get all types of fabric, from cotton to silk to blends. Are you thinking you have to be in that color while you're full of earth energy?"

I nodded enthusiastically, "I felt like I got an internal thumbs up when I asked myself the same thing."

She rushed me back to my mates, saying to our little group, "It's not the dress, it's the color. Full of earth energy means she has to be wearing this exact shade, but not necessarily this dress. Nice thinking, Jake. I can get the material and things to make her more comfortable clothing once she approves the designs. When I see the exact colors of the other elements, I can get started on those, too."

I hurried to say, "My eye color, Ali. Anytime I speak with my inner goddess, she's always wearing the exact shade of her eyes. When she is in full goddess mode, all of the elements, umm... wait, let me see if I can project the picture to you."

I closed my eyes to picture the Elemental Goddess in all her glory, in her swirling color gown. I pushed the picture toward Alice, whispering, "Goddess Elemental."

A few seconds later, Alice and Edward both gasped before whispering, "So beautiful."

I smiled bashfully, then said, "That is all four elements wrapped in one goddess. Hey, do you think you could do a drawing of her? These three can't see what you did. I can push the images to you now, but only because you're a seer. I can't do it with them yet... I'm not strong enough."

Alice hugged me as she said, "You push anything you want me to draw, and I'll see that they get done while you have your time together in the next few nights."

I smiled widely, "Thanks, Ali. You want the images now?"

She nodded enthusiastically. I pictured every detail of the Earth Goddess in her stunning gown, down to how her elements shown against her skin. I pushed the picture to Alice, whispering, "Earth Goddess."

Another gasp from both of them. I pictured the Air Goddess in all her ethereal beauty, then sent the picture to Alice. "Air Goddess."

Alice whispered in awe, "Stunning," while Edward followed with, "Exquisite."

I pictured the Fire Goddess. She was so sexy and tempting. Every detail of her seemed to scream sensuality and passion. I sent the picture to Alice as I whispered, "Fire Goddess."

Alice giggled as Edward said hoarsely, "Christ, you three are in trouble. The display today was nothing compared to this."

My mates moaned, so I giggled knowingly. I cleared my thoughts and pictured the last one... the Water Goddess in her flowing dress. Everything with her seemed so fluid... so natural. I sent it to Alice, then both of them sighed.

"So serene. So... captivating. Like her voice, there's no way to describe it," Edward said awestruck.

I waited a second, then said, "Can you do it, Ali?"

She smirked at me, "Most definitely. I see what you mean about the eyes, too. The swirling colors of the Elemental Goddess and the shockingly vivid colors of the other goddesses. The silver was pure, but seemed almost swirling. The red seemed to flicker like a flame, and the blue... it looked like ripples on the water from a raindrop. The green was different than it is now. They were... I don't know... almost rooted in something... strong. The multicolored eyes of the Elemental Goddess... wow. They looked almost like a starburst of the four colors mixing and they swirled."

She ended sounding almost breathless. "Take a breath, Ali. My eyes are different because I'm not using the power. If the element was above my cupped hands, or I was actively using the power, it would look just like you saw. I'm just storing the power right now... it's not flowing out of me. Same with the others. They won't look like that unless the power is actively being used or displayed."

She nodded and flashed into a vision. She gasped and smiled widely while I heard Edward say, "Shit, that's really incredible."

She came out of the vision giggling. "I don't think we're going to get much done for the second round, Jazz. Everyone will want to see this."

Jasper quirked an eyebrow at her. In return, she smirked and nodded. Jasper said, "Well, then. I guess as soon as the second round gets here, we better get the show on the road."

I grumbled, "I'm not a circus freak, you know. This is all new to me, too, but I don't even get to see what I look like doing it. At least you guys see the whole show."

I crossed my arms over my chest, closing my eyes. I didn't want to know, yet not be able to see it. I heard whispers too low for me to understand, which was starting to piss me off. "You know, I've never understood that. I'm. Right. Here. I can hear you whispering even if I can't understand what you're saying. It's quite rude."

I never opened my eyes until Peter grabbed my chin. He looked shocked. "Kitten, how did ya know they were whisperin'? I couldn't even understand them, they were talkin' so low... and I'm a vampire."

Huh? "Wait, what?! I could have sworn I heard Alice and Edward whispering about me."

He looked even more shocked, "They were, Sug... but with how low they were talkin', ya shouldn'a even known. Your hearin' is expandin', Kitten. The elders are talkin' at a normal tone on the other side of the yard. Close your eyes. See if ya can focus in on ‘em."

I closed my eyes, then took a few minutes to center myself. I heard Billy and Quil discussing whether or not to work on air still. "They don't know whether or not they should have me work on air anymore today. They think maybe they should expand my knowledge of earth. Sue doesn't agree. She think's they need to find out what set me off with air before they change the plan for the day."

I opened my eyes to see 5 slackjawed vampires. "What?"

Char answered, "Sweetness, Jake had them walk to the front yard as soon as you closed your eyes. They were out by the mailbox. You heard them loud and clear?"

I nodded. Wow.

Edward spoke up in curiosity, "Bella, do you think this is part of the goddess and all the energy?"

I shrugged then closed my eyes. I asked the question, then got an internal thumbs up. I opened my eyes again, saying, "Yes, I got an internal thumbs up... just like with the clothes issue. It's not really a thumbs up... more like an internal confirmation when I ask the question. Does that make sense?"

Jasper placed kisses on my shoulder. "Yes, it does, Darlin'. I felt it... the confirmation. I'd say your goddess is more in tune with you now. You don't need to meditate for answers, it seems. Your progress is rapid, Sug."

I felt Peter kiss the top of my spine as Char kissed my other shoulder. My spine tingled, causing me to shudder slightly. That instant I got the answer.

I jumped up like I was on fire, dashing to the elders. "I want to work on air and earth. I'll explain what happened earlier, but I know I can do this. I just have this feeling that Jasper needs to touch our elements right now for me to be able to work with air. When we were on our way here... the gas station. They were all standing behind me with their hands touching the respective elements. It was instinctive for me to tell them not to break contact. He needs to touch his and my elements for me to be able to successfully work with air on bigger scales until I'm turned. Will you allow me to try?"

They all nodded, then Billy expanded his thought, "We'll allow it, but not until we hear what happened."

I hugged him, responding, "Thank you. I had already told my mates that as soon as we got settled back in the clearing, I'd explain it to all of you and them. Thank you. I know this will work. I won't let you down."

Before they could say anything else, I ran back to the five vampires I had just ran from. I plopped onto Jasper's lap, straddling him, then kissed him hard. "Wow, Kitten," Peter said, "Can I get in on that? Or is there a certain reason for your new excitement?"

I broke the kiss laughing as Jasper moaned and shifted. "I had an epiphany. I'm getting them a lot today. I'm not strong enough to be able to work with air on anything more technical than one small swirl of a tornado or breezes without Mr. Whitlock, here... not until I turn. Until then, he needs to be touching my element and his like at the gas station. Epiphany! I can rock out just about anything with his contact. I guess we got a show to put on in the field after I explain what happened earlier to you three and the elders."

The second round of the pack showed up just then. I kissed Peter soundly, then Char. Jasper trailed his hand down my spine as I kissed Char, which made me moan around her tongue. I heard Alice giggle, then Edward whisper something to her as they walked away.

The kiss broke as I trailed my lips to her ear, "I want you so much right now. I want to taste you."

I nipped the soft spot behind her ear. She grasped my hips, pulling me into her lap. She ran her hand up my spine while breathing into the hollow of my throat as my head fell back, "I want you, too. I want to feel every inch of you, Sweetness."

I grabbed the back of her head, crushing my mouth to hers. We both moaned, then I heard Jasper whisper, "This is getting a little more heated than for public, Darlin'. Not that I mind, but the other's might have to be shooed away for a while if this keeps going. There's a whole yard full of people and wolves in close proximity."

I reluctantly broke the kiss, trailed my lips to her ear again, then breathed, "You will be mine later. That's a promise. I need you, and I will have you before the night's over."

I bit down on the crook of her neck and shoulder, then sucked on the spot for a second. I felt Char shudder underneath me with a quiet moan. I released her, then pecked her lips quickly.

We all got up, got ready, then left for the battlefield. I rode Jake's back over there, while Charlie rode on Embry's like before. I patted them both as I helped Charlie dismount, then we walked to the tree from this morning with the elders and my mates. Jasper sat behind me this time, Char and Peter on either side of us.

Once everyone was settled, I began, "When you told me to make all of the piles go into the air, not combine, or lose any into the ditches... my first thought was four tiny tornadoes. One tornado for each pile, and they would stay separate. The debris would swirl up into its own tornado, then when the last of the debris from that pile was up, everything would swirl back down into its original position. None of the earth would even be disturbed with how I envisioned it. Soon after I started though, something went wrong. The tornadoes were me, and it felt like when I have an episode. I couldn't get them to stop or slow down..."

I took a deep breath as I felt the calm blanket me. I rubbed Jasper’s hand in acknowledgement. "I couldn't make it slow, stop, or even change into something else. They just kept building and building until they combined. I was lost by then. It was a physical manifestation of how I felt. I knew my eyes had already changed. Nothing had gone as I envisioned. I wasn't strong enough. That's when Major stepped in. He took the control I needed him to. He made me stop it. He helped me stop it. I couldn't have done it without him. I was so lost in the tornado... that was all I could see or feel. I knew this would be a hard element for me, but I didn't... everything was going well until then."

Sue spoke softly, "Air is one of the most unpredictable elements, though all of them have unpredictable traits. If your theory is correct, we know that you and Jasper must have physical contact for you to use air until you are changed. Are you ready to try again? Try channeling through your contact with Jasper. Put the debris into four piles, the piles being the points of a square. Make the square big enough that when you try for the tornadoes, they don't touch. Bring the debris into their respective tornadoes, then like before, once all the debris is in, set it back down. Try not to let any loose earth be disturbed. Also, try using only a small amount of your energy level to make and use the tornadoes. Maybe try for a tenth of your total energy. Ready to begin?"

I nodded as I stood with Jasper. We walked hand-in-hand to the same place I was earlier. I surveyed the location of the debris. "Jazz, how far out would you say the farthest debris is?"

He hummed, "It's just over 50 feet away. What are you thinking, Darlin'?"

I grinned, "I'm thinking that it's the perfect spot for one of my tornadoes. Make the box from there with the two closest being 20 feet from us. We're about center from where they will be on either side of us, right?"

He smiled, "Yeah, Sug, perfectly centered. What do you need me to do?"

He kissed my shoulder, so I said, "Stand behind me with the hand you usually trace with on our two elements, the other hand firmly on my hip. You need to make me feel grounded, so hold very firmly. I need my Jazz for this, so don't let Major in unless I flip out like earlier. He'll be able to stop me before an episode happens. When I start, you'll feel everything I do, and it'll be amplified... are you ready?"

He nodded with a kiss to my nose. He stood behind me with his right hand covering our elements, his left hand on my hip, then scooted in as close to me as he could. I nodded. "Right there."

I took several deep slow breaths, then felt Jasper's breathing sync with mine. "Yes, don't stop. Keep that rhythm, so we stay synced."

I took another few breaths and closed my eyes, still in synch with Jasper's breathing. I knew instantly what went wrong before. All four of my tornadoes were going in the same direction last time. That's why they combined. Infinity. That's what I needed to do. My left piles needed to swirl in one figure eight, my right in the opposite direction.

I focused on the vision from earlier. I made my back left tornado swirl clockwise, front left swirl counter-clockwise. Then I made the back right swirl counter-clockwise, and the front right swirl clockwise. I backed the vision up, changing the scene from the ditches to what we had now. I envisioned the debris forming the square I talked to Jasper about, only using a breath of power to make the piles. Then I envisioned the tornadoes taking form and lifting the debris. When the last of the debris touched back to it's original position, each tornado had only used a tenth of my power.

I felt the power of the earth change to the power of the air inside me as I opened my eyes. I looked at Jasper, then whispered, "It's time."

In front of me, the debris was scattered around. My hands came out in front of me with my index fingers and thumbs touching. As I separated my hands, they formed two parallel lines. I saw the finished piles in my mind. I watched as the piles formed on the field, the debris area splitting into four before drawing towards its pile.

When that was done, my wrists bent down, my index fingers drawing figure eights as I saw the four tornadoes in my mind. I watched the field as the tornadoes formed perfectly. The debris started lifting. I was in complete control this time.

I kept the motion going as the last pieces of debris were pulled into their tornadoes. I checked the energy level. As I slowly started letting the pieces fall back to their original spots, I knew my energy was right on target.

The last pieces were falling back to their spots slowly, the tornadoes dissipating. I mentally kissed the wind as the last piece fell, whispering, "Thank you." The breeze tickled my face as I smiled.

I felt the energy inside me change back to earth, so I turned to Jasper. Cheers erupted all over the field as Jasper kissed me softly. "I know what Alice meant by your eyes now, Darlin'. They were spectacular. Swirling and glittering Silver. So captivating. You did brilliantly."

I smiled widely, "I knew I just needed my Jasper. I realised when I first started picturing it this time that my tornadoes were all going the same direction last time. It took our breathing in sync for me to realise my mistake. I corrected the direction of each tornado, then backtracked my vision to the way the field looked before I made the piles and went from there. I couldn't have done it without you, Cowboy."

Then I got excited as it took hold that I really did it. I jumped into his arms before wrapping myself around him. My head fell back as I yelled excitedly, "I did it. I really did it!"

He swung me around, then licked the hollow of my throat as I giggled loudly. The breeze fluttered like butterflies through the whole field in response.

Everyone made their way to us, Peter and Char being the first. They surround us, praising how well I did, kissing me anywhere they could reach.

When I saw Charlie heading our way with a huge 'Proud Papa' grin, I hopped down to meet him. He wrapped me in his arms,  then whispered into my hair, "You did it, Princess. I'm so proud of you."

I snuggled my head into his chest as I whispered, "I'm glad you're here, Dad."

A minute later, we separated. I turned to the pack and family. There was a round of hugs and congratulations, then I turned to the elders. They all nodded in respect, then Quil stepped forward, "That was quite a display of control and power. How is your energy level?"

I smiled, "Jasper? Would you agree that I stayed in the parameters set?"

He closed his eyes. "She’s four tenths and a hair below the level she started with."

I laughed, "Not a hair, a breath. That's what I used for separating the piles. A breath."

The elders laughed, but Quil offered, "Very impressive. Do you feel you could have gone with a lesser amount of energy?"

I closed my eyes, evaluating all of my moves. I asked myself the same question, then my energy meter flashed in my head with only two tenths plus a breath of my energy used. I nodded, "Yes, I feel like I could have used half the amount of energy on the tornadoes, but still had the same exact results."

They all had a 'Wow' look. Quil said, "Very impressive, Young One. Would you like to work more with air or switch to earth?"

I knew he wanted to see my eyes with earth, so as he grinned, I said, "Earth, please."

Billy smiled, "Want to see what you're made of, huh?"

I laughed, "I can tell my mate wants to see my eyes while the earth power flows out of me. When I was working with air, it changed the energy inside me. I felt it change from earth energy to air right before I started moving the piles. I looked at Jasper to tell him it was time, so he saw the Air Goddess' silver eyes. When the power flowed the silver swirled and glittered. I can tell he's itching to see the Earth Goddess' eyes now."

Billy nodded, saying, "I think that's something we would like to see, also."

The elders and Charlie all agreed, then they walked us over to the other side of the field. When we got there, Sam turned to me. "How do you feel about earthquakes splitting the earth open, Sister?"

I giggled, "How big a quake are we talking? How long and deep of a split?"

Sam shot right back, "Stand a third of the way down the field. Have a sizeable earthquake split the earth open ten foot across, twenty foot deep, and left to right, from treeline to treeline. My only question is, can you keep the tremors inside the protection zone?"

I laughed loudly, "Earth Goddess, Sam. Yes I can contain them to the protected zone. Do you want it strong enough to rock the vamps?"

Sam smirked and wiggled his eyebrows. I didn't need him to say more, so I shot, "Just make sure the elders and Charlie are sitting down. No one needs to break anything on my watch."

Everyone agreed as I started walking down the field. As I did, I envisioned a 6.0 earthquake localized inside the treeline, focusing about 2/3 of it's strength toward where the split line needed to be.

I didn't want to damage the trees where the split would be. My gut told me I needed to stay 15 feet inside the treeline, or it would damage them. I focused on what the final vision would look like for the split. Then I backtracked, searching for how much energy this whole thing would take.

As I got to where I needed to be, I knew it would take no more than a tenth of my full power for the whole show... including putting everything back. I started picturing it from the beginning, along with the levels of energy through the whole thing, then envisioned ending with the earth in it's original form and the right amount of energy used. I felt the earth's power flowing, so I turned, opening my eyes. "Stay where you are."

With that, I dropped to the ground and dug my fingers into the earth. I shook my hands in the earth, causing the start of the quake. I stood back up, brought my arms out in front of me shoulder width apart. Vibrating my hands in front of me, I brought them closer and closer together.

When they were no more than a foot apart, the quake was full swing, so I clapped my hands together hard. The earth split between me and the others, right where and how I envisioned. The sound of the earth shifting apart and rumbling filled the entire field with deafening noise.

When the split was finished perfectly, the earthquake stopped. My energy levels where right where they should be. I walked to the edge of the split, still feeling the power flowing, then said, "I had to stay 15 ft inside the treeline, or the trees would have sustained damage. I did not want the trees harmed. Are you ready for me to put everything back?"

They nodded, slack-jawed, as I returned to my former position. I slowly brought my hands together, shifted them, then ended with them perfectly aligned together. I watched as the earth rumbled and slowly brought itself to rights.

When it was all done, my energy level was perfect, the field silent once more. I walked to where the split happened, got down on my knees, then bent to kiss the earth. I felt the internal acknowledgement, so I ran my fingers through the grass.

I got up and finished walking to everyone with a smile on my face. When I reached Sam, I lightly punched his shoulder, "Was that good enough for you, Brother?"

He choked out a shocked laugh, then said, "How much energy did that take?"

I giggled before preening, "Less than a tenth of my full energy level... for the whole show."

Nobody knew what to say. They were all stuttering, choking on their words. "I think since earth is my element, it doesn't take nearly the amount of energy to do things as it would with other elements. That was a 6.0 earthquake, by the way. None of it left the protection zone… didn't even leave the treeline."

Sam went wide-eyed, "Really?"

I nodded as Edward said, "Yes, really. The leaves on the trees never even shook from the quake. Very well done, Bella."

Jake came over and licked my palm. I scratched under his chin as he sat next to me. "Hey Jake. Did the pack like the show?"

He barked a laugh, then tried to talk in his wolf form, which came out more like yowls. I laughed, then Edward translated, "He says the first and third round are pissed they didn't get to see it in person, the second round is glad they're on your side and hope they never piss you off. Your four are all glad they get to be with you 24/7... that it was the coolest thing he'd ever seen."

Jake nodded his head in a 'that's right' fashion, so I burst out laughing. "That was quite a mouthful. Was he talking a mile a minute, like in his human form when he's excited?"

Edward smirked, "It was hard for even me to keep up with all of it, yet I'm used to hearing vampires think faster than they run."

Everyone got a kick out of that, but I wrapped my arms around Jake's front leg, saying, "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Jake. I'm positive the others will get to see things like this as time goes on... especially now that I'm powered up 24/7. I barely used any of my energy compared to what I usually do. With all the energy I put into the sapling and the field of flowers, they should be there for the next hundred years without having to gather their own energy from the sun or rain. I put more energy into a quarter of those flowers than I used for the whole earth show. I hadn't thought before to find out internally what things would take, energy wise. When Quil asked if I thought I could have done the tornadoes with a lesser amount of energy, I looked internally for the answer, and automatically knew I could have done it with half the energy while still having the same result. That was 4/10 of my total energy. The flowers and sapling were a total of half my full energy. My normal is only a quarter of my full. I only used a tenth of my total for the earth display. Think about how long those flowers will be reblooming."

Jake nodded his big head as I let go of his front leg.

Chapter 42

Chapter 44