Elemental Goddess
by wizardtho
Chapter 35: Earth
BPOV:
I walked with the elders and my mates to a shady spot. We all sat in the grass; me leaning back against Jasper between his legs, Peter and Char laying their heads on his legs. I ran my fingers through their hair as we spoke. “Tell me of your time since we parted, Young One.”
I laughed, remembering Jake in wolf form in our bedroom while I was curled between two of my mates naked. “Well the night was interesting, to say the least. We bought out half of the whole foods market in Port Angeles. We left with five large carts overflowing with food. There will be plenty of food for the pack while there, as well as for you to choose from during your rest periods. The awesome chocolatier there told me she would make me custom chocolates if I kept up my large orders from her. We found cute little dispensers for my aromatherapy shampoos and such. I cooked the pack dinner, then we retreated to the cabin.”
I blushed slightly, then continued. “We had come to an agreement that when I needed intimate time with my mates, that the pack would patrol at a safe distance away to give us privacy. Jake was a little too close last night. See, well, my elements are very sensitive to my mates' venom. Jake happened to pass by at the end of an intense moment... and, well... he heard my scream. He wouldn't leave until he saw in person that I was okay. Needless to say, I kind of snapped at Jake. I instantly felt like shit, and tried to apologize."
Quil nodded, but Sam and Billy both gave each other a significant look before I continued. "He felt my normal stable emotions this morning after my liqueurs, so I think he understands the intense scream last night. Then after breakfast this morning, I was coming down the stairs in the main house. The front door was wide open. I felt the breeze on my skin, then ran down the stairs, feeling the need to dance in it. Char danced with me. Any time she made me giggle, the breeze fluttered like tiny kisses from butterflies. It felt so good on my skin and made me giggle again, thus repeating the process. The more the breeze fluttered the better I felt. Finally I plopped down in the grass, closing my eyes to center myself to come here, but a flash from a vision I had before came to my mind. I was walking in this field; after every one of my barefoot steps, flowers would pop up in my wake. I smiled thinking about that vision, then I heard everyone gasp. I opened my eyes to looked around to see why they were all in awe, but flowers had grown up in the openings of my spread fingers. The blue flower reminded me of my Char. When I caressed its petals, it grew larger. I plucked it and placed it in her hair... this is the flower.”
I pointed to the flower in Char's hair. All of the elders were smiling at me. Sue asked, “Did you try to do anything with your powers, or was it just something that happened?”
I shook my head, “I have never tried to force my powers. Even when I did use them to keep us safe, it was all instinct. I've never knowingly tried to use them. All I did this morning was think about a vision of flowers in the wake of my steps, and up came flowers through my fingers. I giggled because I was happy, and the breeze fluttered. When Char tickled me, the breeze fluttered through the whole front yard, not just my immediate area. I didn't do it on purpose, though. It just happened.”
Billy wondered, “Do you think if you thought of the same vision, you could make it happen again?”
I shrugged, “I don't know. I could try, though.”
I got up from between Jasper's legs, then sat down in the soft grass between my mates and the elders. I placed my hands on the ground, spread wide, and felt the energy in the earth again. I pictured the flowers in my wake, how pretty they were, how they spread out like trail behind me, how each step I took in the grass felt like I was walking on soft feathers. I opened my eyes, looking between my fingers, then around me. There were flowers everywhere for a five foot radius. Wow.
I took my shoes off, sunk my feet in the soft grass at the edge of the flower bed, then walked forward with my eyes open, thinking about the vision and how pretty the flowers were. How I wanted the field to have the beautiful flowers. After about fifteen feet, I looked behind me. The trail of flowers was there.
Holy shit! “Can I just say, Awesome! I made flowers grow!”
I giggled, causing the breeze to flutter. I trailed my hands over the flowers as I continued to giggle. The breeze fluttered as the flowers grew under my fingertips. “That's so cool!”
I hopped through the grass back to my mates, then sat in front of Char. She had picked some of the wild flowers, weaving them into my braided hair. Sam was smiling as he said, “That was a beautiful sight, Bella. And to see you so happy... that's all I've wanted for you for a long time.”
I blushed, “Thanks, Sam, but it has a lot to do with these three. I wouldn't have a fourth of this happiness if I didn't have them. Speaking of feelings. Jake mentioned after his little experience with my feelings, that it might help the four of you with my training if you were to feel them. If you would like, Jasper can project them to you. You can ask Jake first, if you would like.”
Quil nodded, then Billy let out a loud whistle. Jake came running over in human form, then touched my cheek, “Nice show there, Earth Bells. A lot bigger than this morning... cool. What's up?”
Billy responded, “How was your experience with Bella's feelings this morning? Have you had any side effects?”
Jake laughed, “You told them what I suggested? It was awesome, Dad. Truly amazing. I wish I could feel like that half the time, let alone as a normal. None of us that felt it have had any side effects at all. It just made us realise how special she really is.”
Billy nodded, “Thank you, Son. How long before the pack is ready to start?”
Jake said, “I was just getting ready to have them phase, put them through warm ups.”
Billy nodded, “Go ahead. We will be along shortly, then Jasper will take over instruction. He needs to demonstrate the differences between the vampires we've come across and newborns.”
Billy turned back to Jasper. “We would like to give it a try when you are ready.”
Jasper warned before he did anything, “She feels everything more intently than even vampires do... yet we feel a lot more strongly than humans. Please brace yourselves. I will ease you into it slowly, to not overwhelm you, and will let you know when you are feeling all of it."
A few moments into it I saw all of them gasp while bracing themselves... Sue, Sam, and Quil with their hands flat against the ground, Billy with his hands tightly gripping his wheelchair. They all had smiles on their faces. Another few moments passed before Jasper said, “This is how she feels at her normal level. If she feels a sudden rush of happiness, like earlier, it's a lot more intense. I can duplicate what she felt with the flowers if you would like.”
Quill nodded, and they all suddenly started laughing with ear-to-ear grins. “This is her happiness earlier.”
He toned it back to my normal level, then Sam said, “The bonds I feel tugging. Are those the bonds she has with the three of you? How does that work?”
Jasper backed slowly off the emotional cocktail. When they were fully released, I spoke, “When a vampire fully claims a mate as theirs, physically and emotionally, with the mate accepting, a piece of the soul resides in the other.”
My hands extended. Before me in the open space, was a projection of the three pieces of my mates' souls I held for safekeeping. “These pieces you see... they are my mates' soul pieces that they gave me for safekeeping during our claimings. They reside in me, just as they each hold a piece of me.
I closed my hands, then opened them again, “This is the piece of me Jasper holds.”
I closed my hands and opened them again, “Peter holds this one,”
I repeated the process, “and Char has this part.”
I closed my hands, then brought them back. “There are special days where vampires and mates immerse themselves in the bond. The Cullens call them love days. The only people you want to be near are your mates when they happen. They happen when the bond is matured enough and strong enough for that point in your mating. Peter's claiming of me forced me into a double love day. They didn't even know I could have one, since I am not a vampire yet, so they didn't know to prepare me. The problem was, Peter's piece in me had not gotten time to strengthen, or the bond to mature. It weakened the soul piece, fractured the surface.”
I opened my hands in front of me, showing them Peter's fractured and damaged soul. Everyone gasped. “I had to go inside myself to repair the damage, or my bond with him would have been lost. I ached… my insides hurt so bad. I screamed out in pain when it happened. Their venom, both Jasper's and Peter's, helped me repair the bond to the glorious state you saw before. My goddess showed me what I needed to do, so I was able to make the soul piece more beautiful than when the bond first happened. It was as strong and beautiful as Jasper's when I was done repairing it. We had our love day, then we were on our way to Texas the next day.”
I looked to Char, stroked her cheek, then said, “Char and I had silently agreed to not claim one another until after my turning, to be safe, not risk another soul piece being damaged or the pain that came with it. Even though we had not said the words aloud, my physical claiming of Char happened, and she accepted with her whole being. I had injured myself after the claiming, so I was getting tended to, and didn't realise that she thought my pain was a manifestation of the new bond. She retreated into herself in worry. I had to mentally go in to find her... bring her back to me. We said the claiming words while in the mental bond. Our bond was complete when we both resurfaced. My goddess chose that moment for her transformation to be complete, so it forced me into a power overload. I had one episode that lasted through all four powers. I told Jasper beforehand, that when I woke up from bringing Char back, Major needed to make sure I was bound in the playroom."
They all stayed silent, waiting for me to continue, so I did, "When the episode was over and I was myself again, I was exhausted and sore all over. It felt like every muscle in my body had been put through the wringer. My mind was mentally tired. An episode where I need one or two of them takes a lot out of me, but all four powers... I wouldn’t have lived through that without them. We did find out that no one can touch me or my mates during an episode. Not even one of my mates can touch the other. The goddess claims them all as her mates… only hers. She gets mighty pissed if they touch each other. I could have hurt Char. I made the whole room shake violently when Major kissed her. It happened before I even registered the action in my brain. I had no control over it, but my eyes flashed green and the whole room went shaky-shaky. Needless to say, I need to figure out how to reign those things in quickly, before someone does get hurt.”
Sue spoke, “Bella, you said you had a vision of the flowers and your footsteps. Did you see anything else that had to do with your powers?”
I thought back to the vision. I spoke as the images flashed before me, “Flowers blooming in the wake of my footsteps, fire erupting at the snap of my finger, wind blowing massive amounts of debris from my way and piling near the tree line, water rising from a calm ocean up to touch my outstretched fingers at the top of a cliff. All of them happened here in La Push except for the debris. The cliff was high above First Beach, the flowers was here, the debris I think is in the other field... but I'm not sure. The fire... I don't know where... Sue's backyard! I recognise it now. Sue, it's that bush you hate... the one you can never get rid of. To prove to Charlie my elemental nature, I torch that bush. We have to change you bringing him to Sam's and telling him there. I have to tell him at your house. Does he just walk into your house?”
She nodded affirmative. “Maybe you can be talking about him seeing the goddess with the other elders when he comes in. That way when you all agree, I can come in through the back door... explain the whole goddess has three mates thing. Now that I know I can have kids with them, it's not like he won't have grandbabies in the future. That will take a load off since I'm his only child. It's perfect. Will you do it?”
She smiled widely, “As long as you promise that the nasty bush is gone before you go home tonight.”
I hugged her tightly, then said, “I think the pack is getting restless. We should get going on the training thing."
Everyone stood up, then we walked towards the eight horse-sized wolves and ten vampires that were sitting at one end of the clearing waiting for Jasper, Peter, and Char to join them. When we got there, Jasper asked, “Do you want one of us with you while you start your training, Darlin'?”
I hugged him to me, breathing deeply. “No, you'll need them both to help demonstrate in the mock fights. Just keep an eye on my emotions, send someone if you feel I need them. You'll all be in my view in the field, so I should be okay. Now go be Major and train our army. I love you.”
I kissed him before turning to Peter and Char, who wrapped themselves around me, “He'll let you know if I need one of you. Help him until then. I love you both.”
I kissed them both, then walked to the elders. “I'm ready. As long as we stay in sight of them, I should be fine. I have issues with not visibly being able to see them for longer than a shower.”
They all agreed that we would be just at the other side of the field, and no further away. As we walked, they said we would mostly practice with earth today, but that they would like to try small things with each element. I agreed, and when we made it to the other side of the clearing, they sat in a half circle with me a few feet in front of them.
Billy started when we were all settled, “What do you feel when you place your hands in the grass?”
I smiled, knowing what he was looking for. “Energy. I feel the energy flowing through the earth.”
He nodded, “Very good, Bella. All four elements have that energy, if you know to look for it. Each element's energy signature is different. You need to find those differences, remember them. You need to be able to recognise each element's energy when you are not focusing to find it. You will be shown how to draw the energy up from each element to use it, so that you don't become so weak when using your shield or powers. Your goddess will not fully be able to take over until you are turned, so you need to know these things. When you are running on pure instinct, it is the goddess taking over for a short time. You are not strong enough yet for her to be present all the time. That is what we need to do. Teach you how to become strong enough.”
I nodded, then Quil said, “You seem to do best when picturing things in your mind. Each element's energy will be drawn into you in a different way. We need to find the way that each energy will become part of you. Close your eyes. Think about the earth beneath you… about the energy being drawn into you. What picture is first to come to you?”
I closed my eyes, sitting in the lotus position with my hands on the ground next to me. I thought about the earth, drawing it into me. The first thing I thought of was the grass. It almost felt like the grass was growing into me. As it did, I felt so much stronger. I kept watching the vision, but said aloud, “The grass... it feels like it's growing into me, and it makes me feel... so strong... so stable... like my Jasper makes me feel.”
I opened my eyes. “It's the grounding feeling Jasper gives me. The energy pattern of the earth is the way Jasper makes me feel when he's grounding me. I can breathe in his scent sometimes and feel grounded. It feels natural.”
They smiled, then Sue said, “Now lets try the air. Close your eyes, feel the air on your skin, blowing gently through your hair. What do you see?”
I closed my eyes again, but my arms raised above my head in a V. I felt the air, thought about its energy flowing into me. I saw me breathing deeply and my body filling with with the air's energy.
I kept with the vision as I said, “The air. I see me breathing deeply, filling with the air's energy. The feeling of the energy is like I was out of breath, then when I breathed in the air, I felt so much better. Does that make sense? It feels like... Major.”
I whispered the last word, so the elders looked at me questioningly. “There's only one way I can explain it. I have to explain my needs during my episodes. There's a sexual aspect to my episodes and bringing me out of them. That's why we try to keep things private when I'm having one. When my eyes are green during an episode, I need Jasper to ground me. I feel like I can't stay grounded in myself. He helps me get back to that grounded place. When they are red, I'm frustrated, pissed, or need an outlet to my passionate emotions but can't find one. That’s when I need Peter. He's my fire, my passion. He shows me a way to release the emotions through his heat and passion for me. He's my heat... white-hot, yet it feels so good releasing my passion with him. When my eyes are blue, I need my Char. When things get out of whack and I'm stuck on something, or can't let something go, Char helps me let everything flow through me. Let everything go with the flow. She's my flowing river."
I took a deep breath, let it out, then said, "When everything feels like a tornado inside me, I can't make it slow down... when I feel like my control is slipping and I can't grasp onto anything... I need Major. I need the Major that Jasper can be. The one he is now with training our army. I'm totally lost in an episode with him, but you must understand that I know and am completely aware of everything we do. I need him to take control, to guide me through the tornado. To make it slow down and stop. Giving up my control to Major, and him using any means necessary to bring me back, it's what I need from him. I willing submit myself to him... he does not hurt me, he knows my limits, never passes them, and he never gets remotely close to drawing blood.”
They were all silent, so I continued, “Please understand that this is part of who I am. If he had not been there for the episodes I needed him in, I would not be here now. In those episodes, I retreat into myself. I'm stripped down to my most base self, and everything is sensory. I'm lost inside myself, but only he can draw answers and myself out of me. I submit to him completely willingly. He always reminds me of my choices. I have never had to have him stop what we do together, because he only does what is well inside my limits. Please tell me you understand.”
Sue spoke gently, “Bella, it's not a path a lot of people choose to take, but with all the control and power you hold in you, of course you need to have times to give that control over. All of us understand this, and we do not judge you. Now, how does the air making you feel like you can breathe again connect to Major?”
I relaxed, knowing they understood, then said, “When an episode with him first starts, I can't breathe. I'm gasping and panting, and can’t speak well. He makes it so I can breathe. He slows everything down. He makes me focus on him and what’s happening right then and there, not everyone else or what’s going on in my head. At the end of the episode, it feels like I can finally breathe. It feels like the air's energy did.”
They nodded before Sue asked, “Now, are you ready to try another?”
I nodded while taking a deep breath. Sam took over, “Let's try to picture a fire now. Picture a fireplace with a fire in it. Think about drawing the energy from it into yourself. What do you see? What do you feel?”
I closed my eyes again. I saw myself walking toward the fireplace, drawn to the heat of the fire. My hands come out in front of me like I'm warming my palms in the heat of the fire in the field as the vision continues. I feel the heat of the fire, feel the energy soaking into me from the heat.
“My Peter's heat, his passion. The heat soaks into my hands from the fire. It warms my insides, and feels like my Peter.”
I open my eyes as my hands drop back to my knees. Billy says, “I'm seeing a pattern here. Lets see about water. Think of the ocean, or of a river, and the energy that flows through it. What do you see or feel from the water?”
I closed my eyes to think of a gently flowing river. Sitting in the field, my fingertips met in my lap with my palms facing upward.
The vision continued. The river was flowing. I thought of the energy flowing through the water... how I wanted the energy to flow through me. I walked far enough forward that my toes touched the water, then instantly felt my Char. The energy was flowing through me like it flowed through the water, and I felt how content it was making me feel.
“My toes are touching the water at the edge of the river. As soon at the water touches them, I feel the water's energy flowing through me, like my Char does. Char's my flowing river. It makes me feel calm, content. But I know it can change course or direction. I know it won't always flow calmly.”
I opened my eyes, placing my hands back on my knees. I smiled, “My elements' energies are the way my mates make me feel. Wait. Does that mean I can draw energy from my mates?”
They all smiled widely. Quil was the one that answered, “If you can find the energy flow and how it feels, you can draw energy from anything or anyone. It is not recommended unless you know how much energy you are drawing. The elements themselves have infinite energy. Your mates not needing sleep and always having energy, I would say as long as they were well fed, you could draw enough from each of them to fill you when in need. I would not attempt it yet, if they had not fed very recently. It may drain too much from them, triggering the need to feed.”
I nodded in understanding as he continued, “Let's try to have you actually draw earth energy into you, and see how you do. Picture in your mind only the feeling of how your Jasper makes you feel, then that feeling drawing into you. Only fill yourself about half way with the feeling. When you feel you are there, open your eyes.”
I closed my eyes, placed my hands beside me in the grass, then felt the earth's energy. I pictured it flowing into and filling me with energy to about my navel. When I felt I was there, I opened my eyes. I saw everyone gasp and hold their hands to their mouths. “Did I do it wrong?”
As soon as my question finished, Jasper was in front of me. “Darlin, are you okay? Look at me please.”
I looked into Jasper's eyes and smiled. “I feel fine, Cowboy. Really. I definitely feel the need to release this energy, though.”
He smiled at me. “Your eyes are a mixture of chocolate and green, Darlin'. I felt the build in your feelings. If you're sure, I think I'll just watch you for a few minutes. I want to be near in case something changes. Peter and Char have the lead right now with the group.”
I nodded, then looked to the elders. Sue said, “What do you feel like doing with the energy? Would you like to make a sapling grow? Fill the field with flowers? Make grown trees stronger and taller?”
I thought for a minute. “I want to help a sapling grow and make more flowers. I feel like I have more than enough energy for both.”
They nodded, so Jasper showed us to a small sapling near the edge of the trees. There was plenty of room around it, so when it grew, it wouldn't harm another tree. I smiled widely. Without waiting for direction, I walked up to the tree, kissed a baby leaf, then placed my hands on its bark. As I watched the sapling, I pictured some of the earth's energy inside me flowing into the sapling, making it grow and strengthen. Before my eyes, the sapling grew to about the age of four or five years. The limbs grew, the leaves bloomed beautifully.
I kissed another leaf when I was done with the energy transfer, then turned to my mate with a wide smile. “I did it, Cowboy!”
I jumped into his arms, where he placed small kisses on my face. I giggled, which again caused the breeze to flutter. He gently let me down while saying, “You sure did, Darlin'... you did amazing.”
I turned to the elders, who were all smiling. “Well done, Bella. Let's have the crowd gather at the edge of the trees for a moment so you can make the field fill with beautiful flowers.”
Jasper halted the practice for a moment, gathering them near the trees to watch. Quil noted, “You can make whatever you want fill the field, but think of things that you might find in this area, and in a meadow or field naturally. If you can do that, they will naturally grow back every year.”
Before I started walking forward barefoot, I pictured Flattened Meadow Grass and White Queen Anne's Lace interspersed with tons of all different colored wildflowers.
I kept the image in my mind as I slowly started walking forward. I walked from one end of the field to the other, picturing the earth's energy in me slowly flowing back into the earth, making the field of my vision. When I reached the tree line at the other end, I pictured the field complete, and the earth's energy restored to it.
I turned back to my mates on the other side of the field. What I saw was so beautiful. It was more beautiful than I pictured in my head. All different colors of wildflowers... every color in a 64 box of crayons was there. It was so pretty. I skipped and twirled my way back across the field singing, "I made pretty flowers. A whole field of them. The flowers like me. I'm the earth goddess. I made a baby tree grow and wildflowers bloom.”
I was laughing while singing, twirling and skipping. By the time I reached my mates, I was surrounded in kisses and hugs.
All of the wolves, elders, and vampires in the field were bowed down when my mates released me. I said loud enough for everyone to hear. “Please stand. You are all my family, and I don't wish for my family to bow to me. I would not be here without all of you. Please stand.”
They all stood, then immediately Jasper said, “You feel hungry. Let's give everyone a small break, so you can relax and eat. Your food was already taken to Sam's.”
I looked to the elders. “I would like to talk to the Cullens and Denalis while I eat. Would there be a problem with all of them accompanying us to Sam's?”
Quil replied, “I know Emily will be feeding the next round of pack members as we speak, so as soon as we get to Sam's, Jacob can call shift change. I don't see a problem with it.”
I smiled, “Thank you. Jake? How do you want to do this?”
He smirked, “Watch this.”
He whistled, then all attention was on him. “The Cullens and Denalis will be coming to Sam's to speak with the goddess while she recoups and eats. My wolves in the field will run to Sam's and meet up with the next group, so you are there when we get there in the vehicles. Two of you will run in the woods along with us. The rest can go now.”
The wolves looked at each other, then two stayed back while the others ran into the woods.
Jasper called the attention of the vampires. "You'll all need to load up in the vehicles you came in, then follow us to Sam's. Bella would like to talk to you all in Sam's backyard while she eats. If any of you feels the need to hunt, please head toward home now, without crossing the treaty line, to do so. Call my phone or Bella's before you hit the treaty line. We will have a couple wolves escort you in. Let me know who is leaving before we load up.”
They all said they did not need to hunt, as they hunted yesterday. We loaded up, then in a few minutes we were all at Sam's.
I walked over to Emily as soon as we got inside. I heard Jacob outback howling, calling shift change, I guess. I hugged Emily, kissed her pregnant belly, then shooed her out of the kitchen. I asked Esme if she would get a few things from the fridge for me out back, while I took over the kitchen for Emily. Esme came back in, then laid my bowls on the counter as I finished dishing out food for the next round of pack members.
I handed out plates to the pack, then told them to find someplace and park it. Three of them went to the table on the back porch, while the others found a spot at the table in the house. I walked over to Esme, kissed her cheek, then opened all of the bowls. I placed the grilled salmon on a plate before popping it into the microwave. “Thank you for grilling the Salmon, Esme. It gave me more time to be with them. We hadn't really been close all day with everything that went on. Our time last night was all the more special because of that.”
She smiled as she kissed my temple, "You'll never stay sane if you can't have time to be with them, Dear. We will do everything we can to help you get that time. Now, what can I do? Put me to work.”
I directed her to where the mixing bowl was, having her dump my exotic fruit bowls into it. Then I put in the caviar I opened. I mixed it up, then the timer went off. I got the plate from the microwave and directed Esme to the glasses. I also had her grab three small bags of chocolate out of the pantry.
I quickly did up the last dishes, then we made our way out back. Esme carried my glass, chocolate, and thermoses, while I carried my plate, bowl, and silverware. I sat under the tree with Peter behind me, Jasper and Char on either side of me.
All of my vampire family gathered around as I asked if the elders would like to join us. They accepted, so I had them find spots facing the family. After a few bites of my fish, I said, “I asked you all here to talk with me, because I wanted to see how you all are doing so far, but also to give you information on the prophecy concerning my destiny. The elders are here to answer any questions I do not know the answer to myself, as they are the ones who told me of what the prophecy held. Now, how are you all doing so far?”
Alice started off, “My vision is fuzzy because of the dual nature of the wolves, I believe. Anything they are involved in blurs. Since you have wolves around you 24/7, you and your mates are always fuzzy. It's like watching static on an old TV. Other than that, your mates have been keeping us busy. I, myself, am looking forward to seeing more of your powers. The display in the field made me want to dance with you. I was so proud, Bella.”
I smiled, “You should have then. You are all welcome to celebrate my achievements with me, as are any of the pack. I feel amazing knowing that I had a part in making the field beautiful and helped a small sapling grow strong. I'm surprised my mates aren't running around giddy as schoolgirls. My emotions are always completely open to Jasper, who often shares them with Peter and Char.”
Peter laughed and kissed my shoulder, nipping at it playfully before saying, “It's takin' alotta restraint, that's for sure. Your feelin's are soarin' right now.”
Char and Jasper agreed before Eleazar spoke, “It was amazing to see you immersed in your element, Bella. Quite magical. As for my family and I, we are doing well, learning better ways to fight as well as protect. We can adapt them to our own styles, and will better be able to help you when the time comes.”
I smiled, “Thank you, Eleazar. It means a lot that your family has chosen to stay at my side though this. You may just want to change your mind once I tell you all that was written in the prophecy. Please know, any of you, that you will not be forced to help.”
Rosalie spoke. “Bella, I had a thought while we were all together talking about there being more to your powers and the prophecy. I suspect that you will be in more than one battle, which seems to link with why Alice is watching for the Volturi and Maria's army. Both are evil and power hungry. Is your destiny to restore the balance?”
I grinned as I answered her question, “Never listen to anyone who tells you that you just have beauty, Rose. You have so much in the brains department, too. Yes, I am to lead with my mates in three great battles. I too, believe that the battles will be Seattle, the Volturi, and Maria's army. If we can all work as one unit with the wolves and elders before the Seattle battle, we will be victorious. If we can continue, we will be victorious in each battle. There will be hard times, and some may sustain injuries, but we will lose none on our side. My vision showed me this. The prophecy states that if I can defeat all three great threats, my goddess nature will allow my mates and I to produce. Even though I will be a vampire before the first battle, plus we all know that my mates are vampires, my goddess nature will allow me to conceive and carry their children. We do not know how many I will have, but the prophecy states that it will take everyone, including the elders and pack, to guide them to their destinies. They have great things in store for them already.”
I took a few minutes to finish my salmon, then a bag of chocolate covered cherries. I poured a glass of coconut milk from one of the thermoses. As I took a drink, Carlisle asked, “Does the prophecy state anything of the nature of the babies?”
I shook my head as I swallowed, “It didn't even state that my mates would be vampires or how many mates I would have. It just said mates and babies. Plural. The elders believe things are coming in fours for a reason... they haven't exactly said so, but I feel that they do. Think about it... the four elements, me and my three mates makes four, the four main pack members sticking close. There are other things, too, but we don't need to go into them. My guess would be that I would have four children in total, but I do not know when exactly or how many at a time. Does that sound about right to you?”
I looked to the elders. Sam was the one to answer, “Yes, Sister. That seems to be what we think. Your intuition is well in tune. Always let your instincts guide you.”
I looked back to my family. Edward asked, “Do you know if your children will inherit your powers or have some of their own?”
I shook my head, “The prophecy doesn't state anything specific to that effect, but I would suspect that they would have something in the way of powers to help them, for them to have such great destinies of their own.”
He nodded, then Emmett whispered something to low for me to hear. I saw all of them nod minutely, then Emmett said, “We're all with you, Bella-boo. Lead us through the path you need to walk. Bring us to the other side. We're with you no matter what.”
Rose added, “If we can see the miracle of even one child being born of this, let alone more and with great destinies of their own, I'm with you no matter what anyone else does. You will be a great mother. Having so many mates to help parent them will only benefit them. The more love a child can have the better. With the elders to guide them as they have you, along with us and the pack to help protect them, your children will grow to be amazing and strong.”
I was teary by the time she finished, “Thank you Rose. That means a lot.”
I heard a round of everyone saying, “We're with you,” so I looked at all of them with a smile.
“I can't make any guarantees about what we will face with each battle. We will need to constantly be on our toes... constantly training for any possibility. Once I'm turned, I will need you all to help me learn how to fight with and without my powers. We may come up against someone who will nullify them. It's a very small possibility, but it still is one. Like I said, we need to prepare for anything. I don't want my vision to change to us ending up losing anyone. Please work with the elders, pack, and my mates to keep the peace that has been so long in forming. It is vital to the coming battles. If we lose the first battle, there will be no children. We will lose every battle if we lose the first. There will be no children, no destinies for them to fulfill. Maintaining the peace is of the utmost importance.”
Everyone with me nodded, so I said, “Now, I have a ton of fruit and awesome chocolate calling my name, so if you have any more questions, please direct them to the elders. I'm eating.”
I smirked at them all as small conversations broke out amongst our group. It was nice to hear the elders and vampires conversing together with no hostility. I leaned back into Peter, who placed small licking kisses from my shoulder up neck to my ear. He whispered softly, “Eat, Kitten. I have plans for as soon as I can sneak ya away, and ya surely will need your energy.”
I brought his ear down toward my mouth, breathing, “I learned that I can draw all the energy I need from the elements, my eager mate... what did you have in mind?”
I heard Alice giggle just as she came out of a vision. I looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but all she did was giggle then act like she was zipping her lips closed. “Nuh-uh Alice. No, you just did not see that.”
She laughed harder, nodding, “I can't help what I see. You know that.”
I whined like a four year old, “But Alice! That's private... you shouldn't see those things.”
I looked up to Peter, who smirked, “Looks like someone's whiny. Did ya come out of meditation on top of the wrong vampire, Kitten?”
Everyone laughed, but I didn't think it was funny. I picked up my food, then moved to the now empty table the pack sat at to eat on the back porch. I plopped down in the chair, then dug into my food while grumbling, “Can't have anything private... all-seeing... everybody knows... never get any privacy... can't even... and then... and the prophecy... why can't I just... ugh!”
Peter placed his hand on my shoulder, but I said, “Please don't. I need a few minutes before I say something I don't mean.”
I felt bad when I saw him walk back to the others. He looked sad. I made him sad. I whispered looking at my food, “I'm sorry, Peter.”
I wasn't hungry anymore; all I wanted to do was cry. Why couldn't it go back to before we came here. We were in our own world, and didn't have a million people around. We didn't have to worry about privacy.
I was trying to hold my tears back with all the people around, but that just made me frustrated. The tears started flowing, my frustration grew, I got pissed at being frustrated, and all of a sudden I felt a change in me as I stood up. I flung myself off the porch, into a spot about 10 feet from Sam's shed.
I instantly saw several trees, but knew I couldn't hurt them with their being alive, so my eyes flicked to a small stack of firewood. My hands shot out like with the fireplace. I could hear people calling me, but when I shot my eyes towards them, they gasped. I turned my attention back to the firewood pile and growled. I growled.
Immediately the pile burst into flames. Peter grabbed me from behind to pull my arms down into my sides, tightening his embrace around me, whispering, “Let's go, Little One. I'm here. You and me. Just you and me, Little One.”
He lifted me up and turned me around, allowing me to wrap myself around him completely. I was crying, shaking, and my speech broken, “P-Pet-er. Ne-eed...” I couldn't even get it out.
He was running with me as he said softly, “Shh, Little One. I know. Give me a second to get us somewhere private. I'll take care of ya.”
I heard him talk to the six wolves I saw while Peter was running, “We're two miles from the house. Give us a mile perimeter, and keep that mile. Do not, under any circumstances other than life or death, get closer to us than that mile. Circle the perimeter if you need to. Don't let anyone inside the perimeter other than her mates. Now go!”
I was still shaking and crying; my frustration level hadn't decreased all that much with the small fire I set. “Pet-er, he-help.”
He set me down in the soft grass in the shade of several trees. He lifted my top off me, then had me stand. He removed my lounge gauchos and thong, then stripped himself down.
He sat against one of the trees, bringing me down into his lap, so I automatically straddled him. He kissed me almost roughly, and I instantly reciprocated. I licked the line of his top teeth before he growled. “Fuck, I love when ya do that, Little One. Again.”
I did it again; he grabbed my hips in response. I moaned and felt myself getting aroused. I realised just then that he had already taken care of necessities for me. I whimpered to him with my need for him making me even more shaky, "N-need y-you, pl-please. Sho-ow me-ee."
He looked deeply into my eyes, then he whispered into my shoulder, "We're not gonna be rough. We can still be passionate and go slow. I wanna take my time, give ya all the passion I have for ya. I wanna show it all to ya, Little One. Nod if ya understand me."
I nodded, so he flattened his tongue against the vein in my neck. "This vein... it knows me, Little One. It senses my presence and begs for me to bite ya."
He bit down gently on the spot on my neck he just licked, then I almost came. I swear it felt so good. "More." I begged.
He grabbed my braid on that side, gently pulled my head over so he could reach the other side of my neck. He licked up that side and bit down again. He growled during the bite this time. When he released it, he licked the marks with his flattened tongue. I cried out from the pleasure of the feeling as I ground myself into his lap.
He growled, biting down in the same spot again. I arched into him, moaning. "So fucking good. Mo-oore. So much more."
He licked the spot again, then I cried out as I came suddenly. With one hand he pulled down on both my braids so my head fell back. With the other, he traced the outside of my folds. He licked the hollow of my throat at the same time he inserted two fingers inside me.
As he curled his fingers inside me, he bit down on the top of my right breast. I cried out, grinding down on his fingers, begging for more. "Your nipples are so tight, Little One. I bet they're just beggin' to be licked and bitten. Tell me, Little One. Do ya want me to?"
I cried out, "Yes! Oh, please. Bite me, Peter. Bite me… lick me all over. Scrape your teeth against me... mark me any way you can. I need to feel you tattooed on every inch of my skin."
He sucked hard on the bite mark he made on my right breast. He licked and sucked for a minute, then when he released it, he ran his tongue against the red mark he made. "I put that mark there, Little One. I did. No one else."
I whimpered. I needed more of him. I arched into him, causing him to suck my nipple into his mouth, moaning against my flesh. My head fell back again as he thrust his fingers deep inside me. I moaned loudly. He scraped his teeth gently against my very tight nipple as he curled his fingers repeatedly inside me. I cried out, my legs shaking as my release flooded his hand. I came and came from the feeling as he repeated it. So much passion. I couldn't take it anymore.
When he brought his fingers to his mouth to taste me, I adjusted my hips to slide down on his cock. We both moaned, then I whimpered, "Ungh. God you feel so big right now. Need you deeper."
I widened my legs as he hooked them over his arms. He grasped my hips with both hands, then began moving me up and down on his cock. "Shit, so tight, Little One. Your tight little pussy is so hot around me. Ya taste so sweet. I could never... ever... get... enough... of ya."
He punctuated his words with deep thrusts, making me cry out with each one. "Oh fuck, Peter. So good... Always want you... this deep... yess... Ahh!"
I came feeling the heat building to an extreme. He started thrusting deeper, faster, and I was loving every minute of it. He let my hips and legs down, then I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist. I rotated before clamping my muscles down. "Fuckin' Christ! So fuckin' tight... so much heat... Shit... cum with me, Little One... cum with me, and let me feel ya fall apart around me."
He leaned me back, holding my weight with one of his hands, as I rocked and rotated my hips getting him deeper inside me. His fingers found my clit. He flicked, pinched, and tugged on my clit. We both cried out as we came, my shield exploding red around us just as three large bushes in the small clearing caught fire. They weren't near the trees, so we didn't have to worry about it spreading.
The heat left me as I came down from my orgasm. I collapsed onto Peter, spent. The bushes were toast when my shield retracted. A few seconds later, Peter whispered into the kiss he placed on my shoulder, "Show me those beautiful eyes, Little One."
I knew I was back to normal, so I smirked as I looked at him. "That's my Kitten. How do ya feel?"
I nodded. "I need my liqueurs, plus I need to gather some energy from the earth or the bonfire I made at Sam's, but I'm okay. I need chocolate like it's becoming endangered."
He kissed me slowly, sweetly, then he said in a normal voice, "All clear, Char. Ya can come over now."
Then he whispered into my skin that Char had a few things we might need. She brought the duffle bag from Sam's. I knew it had my personal items I needed to be able to take care of a certain need. She also brought a cool damp rag to clean up with.
As she handed me the rag, She kissed me slowly. "How are you, Sweetness? Better now?"
I nodded while taking her hand. I kissed it and placed it on my heart. I smiled at her, then she smiled too. "I'm okay, but I need to get cleaned up, fixed up, and back to the house. I need my liqueurs and tons of chocolate... I also need to gain some energy from one of the elements. I think between the bonfire, my shield, as well as the three bushes that are now burnt to a crisp, I let out a little too much energy."
She nodded, backing up so that we could both stand up. Peter gently cleaned me with the damp rag, then he handed me the bag. He picked up his clothes, then him and Char both walked to the other side of the tree to give me a modicum of privacy. I did what I needed to, then put on my thong. I called out to them as I finished getting my gauchos back on.
They came back around the tree, then Char helped me get my top back in place. I hugged her to me, feeling the calm she always gives off. I kissed her temple as I released her, and Peter picked me up. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, snuggled into his chest.
As we reached the mile perimeter, he nodded to the wolf we saw, saying, "All's clear now. Thank ya. We're headed back to the house. Ya can let the others know."
I snuggled further into his chest as he began to run. It felt like only a few seconds later we were in the backyard again. "Take me to Alice please."
Peter took me directly to Alice. She whimpered, but I jumped directly from Peter's arms to Alice's. I wrapped myself tightly around her, clung to her for dear life. I kissed her cheek several times, whispering, "So sorry, Alice... know you can't help what you see... I was such a bitch... not your fault... everything's so different... still love you no matter what."
She tightened her arms around me before sobbing into my neck, "I love you, too, Bella. So much. I'm sorry, too."
We hugged, whispered for a minute, then I felt the need for my Peter again. "Can you pass me back to Peter again? I need him."
She nodded, then kissed my cheek. "We'll talk later," I promised.
She smiled softly, then handed me back to Peter. He turned me around so I could wrap myself back around him. He carried me to the tree, then sat down with me still clinging to him. Char brought the rest of my fruit, milks, and chocolate to me as Jasper sat down next to Peter and I. He nuzzled his nose into my neck, asking, "You okay now, Darlin'?"
I nodded, pulling him further into my neck. He kissed it several times, then I released him to say softly, "Episode's over and it wasn't as bad as it has been before. I'm not completely myself yet, though. I need energy from an element, the rest of my fruit and milk, plus mondo amounts of chocolate. Then I should be good as new."
He nodded before feeding me bites of fruit, chocolate, then more fruit and milk. After that, the process started again. He would kiss my shoulder, Peter would kiss my neck, and Char would kiss my spine at random intervals. I felt better from their attention than I did from eating at that point, so the kisses continued as the food slowed down.
Jasper knew how I was feeling. He and Char both snuggled in closer, then the kisses continued for a while until I really felt the need for energy. I looked around to see that the bonfire was still going. The pack had gathered around it. "Help me to the fire please... I need energy."
Jasper picked me up, carried me towards the fire, then sat us on a large log that had been rolled over to the area as seating. Quil happened to be sitting there talking to the pack, so he asked me, "How do you feel Young One?"
I shook my head, "Need energy. Was going to get some from the fire."
He stopped me, "I think you should get energy from the earth after every episode other than when your eyes are green. When they are, get energy from another element unless your instincts direct you otherwise. Always go to the earth as first choice, though. It is your element, so you need the closest relationship with the earth. If you and the earth are out of balance, so to, will the other elements and your mates be."
I nodded, then asked Jasper to take me back over to the tree. I had him place me on the ground. Sitting in the lotus position, I placed my hands in the grass, then closed my eyes.
I thought about my Jasper and how he made me feel. I thought about the earth giving me just enough energy to make me feel my normal self. I felt the earth's energy flowing into me, so I let it work its magic. When I felt like myself again, I mentally gave the earth a kiss before coming back to myself, bringing my hands to my knees.
I opened my eyes to see all three of my mates waiting to see how I felt. I smiled as I said, "Good as new. I still need more chocolate and kisses, though. Is the fruit able to be saved? If so, I can eat it later."
They nodded as Esme slipped into take the fruit bowl, "I'll bring more chocolate out. Would you like anything special?"
I nodded, "Thank you, Esme. At least one plain really dark chocolate bar, one dark chocolate mint bar, and the small bag of chocolate covered cashews. Can you please bring out my four liqueurs, too, please?"
She nodded before disappearing into the house. I pulled Peter down to me, straddled his lap, nuzzling quickly into his chest. I filled my lungs with his apple and cinnamon scent. Jasper and Char got into their previous positions, then all of them started the kisses again. Char kissed my spine several times in a row, which caused me to hum in pleasure at the feeling. Jasper did the same with my shoulder, placing small kisses along the length of it, so I hummed again. By the time Peter placed the last kiss on my neck, I was humming constantly.
Esme came back over with my chocolate and liqueurs. I heard her softly whisper, "Is that the human equivalent of purring? She sounds like she'd be purring if she could."
I hummed as Char placed more kisses on my spine, then turned my head toward Esme. With a soft smile on my lips, I nodded while humming. "I hmm.... I think I would... hmmm... be too if I could."
I arched into Char's attention, and I swear I mewled. "There's my Kitten. Ya finally feel like yourself again, Sugar," Peter whispered into my neck as he kissed up it again.
Char and Jasper added their kisses before Peter finished. I swear it felt like heaven to have all their kisses at the same time. I never wanted it to end. I knew it needed to though. We weren't doing anything completely inappropriate, but still, it was intimate. "We need to get going again if we want to get anything done."
Char laughed. "Sweetness, look at the sky. You took a long time to get the energy you needed. It will soon be time to head over to Sue's house.”
I looked up at the sky. To my surprise, the sun was starting to slowly sink in the sky. As Jasper handed me my liqueurs and I drank them, I looked to the elders, "I'm sorry most of the day was wasted. I must have been weaker than I thought. I didn't even realise how much time passed. It only felt like maybe a half an hour from my side."
Billy nodded, "Time, when you are immersed in energy, moves quite a bit slower. That might have been why it took so long for you to come back to yourself. Did you draw the energy slowly as to not draw too much?"
I smiled, "Yes, I only wanted to draw enough to make me feel at my normal level again. I was concentrating on going slowly, so I didn't get a lot of extra energy needing to be released."
Sue corrected my mistake, "If you only concentrate on the level, not how fast you get there, you will be fine and not go over. It will take much less time, too. How much energy did it feel like you spent when you made the display with Sam's firewood?"
I winced at her wording, but thought back for a second before answering, "Sam, I'm sorry about that, by the way. Almost none... the same with the flowers in the Cullens front lawn. I concentrated on how much to put into the field of flowers and the tree. I wanted the tree to use only part of the energy I had gained from the earth, while the rest I visualized as I walked the field. I wanted to be at my normal level when I reached the other end of the field, and I was. I pictured the energy I was releasing making the flowers and field beautiful, draining slowly from me to make me be at my normal level when I hit the treeline. It worked."
She nodded. "Good. You can visualize releasing the energy over a period of time. Now we need you to focus on drawing the energy up to that level you want, not how fast or slow you get to that level."
I nodded, "I understand."
I took and ate the mint chocolate bar as Quil said, "You can add to your food intake. You can use fresh herbs and seasonings that come from the earth. Get a grinder for fresh peppercorns, sea salt, add fresh mint to your fruit, and make smoothies with your milks and fruits as alternatives or boosters between meals. Root and vine vegetables are good as long as the acidity is low, only eaten maybe once or twice a week."
I smiled enthusiastically. "I had thought of maybe using the juicer to make fresh juices with some of my fruit, instead of buying pure fruit juices. The bottles are never big enough to satisfy me."
He added, "That's a good idea. I know you eat fish. How much do you eat a day and what type?"
Jasper took this, as I had chocolate in my mouth again. "She likes salmon best, but she has had halibut and the fish here. I keep a fresh supply of Smoked Salmon Tartare available for her at all times. She can go through an 8 oz bowl in one sitting, and usually has grilled or cooked fish at least once or twice a day. I also keep caviar on hand. As you see, she likes to add that to her fruit. We keep her away from the red caviar, though. The side effect when she had that was for private eyes only."
Edward's eyes flashed to mine, so I said, "Private eyes does not mean you can read my mates' flashbacks, Edward. Do I need to shield them at all times to get any damn privacy? Shit... sorry. I know you can't help what you hear. This privacy thing is just really frustrating. I feel like my life went from very private to no privacy to be found anywhere in 0.02 seconds. It's enough to drive me insane."
I took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "I'm sorry, all of you. None of this is your fault, but please be patient with me on the privacy thing. Before we got here, it was just us. We didn't have to worry about anyone knowing our business, where we could be intimate, or if we needed clothes on before leaving the bedroom for a snack. It might sound simple, but our relationship is complicated enough with four of us in it, let alone having to share intimate details with people now. Please just bear with me, and I promise to do my best at getting better with all of it."
Everyone nodded, but no one said anything. "Sue, when should we leave to head to your house?"
She smiled, "We can leave in a few minutes. It'll give you time to say goodbye to your vampire family and eat another bar of your chocolate."
I smiled in thanks. I looked back to the family before asking, "Do you all have anything planned tonight?"
Alice jumped in, "Esme had the idea to go get room diffusers for you, along with some other small things that might make you feel more comfortable. She also wanted to pick up a couple more of those dispensers you got. The bed and bath place, right?"
I nodded, "The one in with my favorite chocolate maker. I swear we should take out stock in that place. We pump enough money into it. I wouldn't be surprised if she expands the shop soon."
Esme added, "Once we get back, I think we are going to spend time with our mates. Can we check out the website another time? Maybe over breakfast?" I nodded.
I knew she was trying to give me more time with my mates, and I appreciated it. "Sure thing, Esme."
They all started standing as I finished the last of my chocolate bar, milk and liqueurs. I still had the bags of chocolate, but I had a feeling I would want them at Sue's.
I had Peter grab a few waters from the fridge, along with a bowl of grilled salmon and two small fruit bowls. Char gathered the empty bowls from inside, then made sure the duffle was placed back in the spare bedroom closet. After I said goodbye to the family, I went inside to say goodbye to Emily. She was laying down on the couch resting. I kissed her forehead and pregnant belly, then whispered to the baby to let Mommy get some quiet time. I told her I'd see her tomorrow, that I’d let her know how it went with Charlie. She nodded, said 'Thanks,' and closed her eyes. I placed the blanket over her, then walked back to my mates.
We headed over to Sue's with the standard four pack members. Once we got inside, Sue said we had about thirty minutes until Charlie would arrive. She was going to get ready. The elders, pack members, and my little family went out back to sit in the grass.