Chapter Twenty
A Long Days Journey...
Grace Cullen-Swan

"Any leads?" Alice's high-pitched voice chirped over the phone.

"None." I sighed, bundled up in a thick coat as I walked one of the many streets I had been canvassing for the past week in our attempt to find Joham. "None of the signs of a prowling vampire, not even a faint scent of another vampire. What about Jasper? Have you seen anything?"

"Nothing, both of us." She sighed deeply. "He must have a hybrid with him. That's the only thing I can think of that could be blocking me. That, or he's got a soft spot for shapeshifters." She remarked dryly. "Jasper just got back from searching his blocks. Head back to the meeting point and we'll figure out a new plan I guess."

"Okay, headed that way now." I told her before hanging up and turning back the way I had come.

Halfway through my stroll back to our hilltop meeting point, a chilling scream scared me and sent me running to help. I found the source of the scream in an alleyway, crumbled up, and drained dry of all blood...with a smiling Joham standing over them.

"Grace Cullen!" He laughed my name, the sound coming out wrong seeing the poor humans blood still in his teeth. "What a delightful coincidence!"

Joham stood at around five feet and ten inches with a thin, wiry frame and jet black hair tied back into a low ponytail. He has the demeanor of a very intelligent and confident man, I'll admit, even if he is entirely sadistic and demented in his ideology's. His friendly smile and easy charm did not evade me as he crossed the short distance between us and kissed my hand in greeting.

"What do I owe the pleasure of such an angelic woman gracing me with her presence in my humble stomping grounds?" He asked me, and I didn't like the way that his red eyes settled on me.

"There's a bit of a situation, I'm afraid, and so I've been looking for you to find some help." I explained. "I have two of my brothers children with me, so maybe there's a place where we can all meet and discuss matters?"

"Of course!" He smiled widely. "Please, I insist we go to my home. I think I have a project you'll be very interested in." He offered and I quickly called Alice.

"Already headed there." She responded quickly, likely picking up the location in a vision, and so I hung up and followed after Joham to his home in the outskirts of the small Ohioan town.

"Joham, this is Alice and Jasper, two of my twin brothers children, my niece and nephew." I introduced them as we met them on the porch steps. "Alice, Jasper, this is Joham, the vampire scientist I've told you about." I added, trying to flatter Joham into helping us.

"Oh? I was quite hoping when you referred to them as your brothers children you meant that he had taken part in my experiments." Joham sighed heavily.

"Well, my brother hasn't, but my son has." I confessed and his eyes immediately began to dance with excitement.

"Do come in. Tell me all about it!" He cheered, opening the door and showing us into the small living room. "So, your son? Last we met you were a lone nomadic vampire." He asked, showing me into a seat before sitting directly next to me.

"Well, a few decades after meeting you, I was working in a hospital in Chicago when I came across a young woman and her son. She begged me to save her sons life anyway I could, and with me being so lonely, I changed him. Edward and I have had a close mother-son relationship ever since." I explained.

"Fascinating." He remarked. "Now, your brother?"

"Carlisle, my twin, and I were separated on the night we were changed. He found me the same day I changed Edward. He had seen me leave the hospital with him and followed me back to my apartment. We've been co-coven leaders ever since." I replied.

"How wonderful for you." Joham nodded. "I've been hoping to cross paths with you for some time now, but I didn't think you'd have settled down." He remarked. "Now, you said Edward has participated in my experiments?"

"I met my mate in a human named Charlie. His daughter, Bella, is Edwards mate and blood singer. On her eighteenth birthday, while everyone was busy with other matters, Bella conceived. Very shortly after, my son and family left due to thinking they could protect Bella from getting injuries from our lifestyle. Well, Bella fell into a depression but soon realized she was pregnant. I tried everything in my power to ensure her survival." I relayed.

"I'm sorry for the loss of your daughter." He sighed, however I knew he couldn't care less for human life.

"She's perfectly alive." I smiled victoriously as his shocked expression settled on me. "Thriving, really. She and Edward just recently married and their daughters first birthday will be in December." I smiled.

"A daughter?" Joham smiled. "Daughters seem to be more predictable with the creation of hybrids."

"What do you mean?" Jasper asked him, scowling at whatever emotions he was picking up on.

"I've got three of them." Joham shook his head. "And they're all quite a handful." He added, laughing.

"Three?" I gaped. "Last we talked you only had two children."

"I've got four now." He smiled proudly. "Three daughters and a son, though he isn't much of an accomplishment." He frowned. "So, tell me about the child, what is she like?"

"Brilliant." I smiled widely. "She's incredibly intelligent though she is and looks around only ten months old. She's kind, sweet, and wonderfully gifted."

"Gifted? In what sense?" He asked quickly and I could see his obsessive nature taking hold of him.

"She's able to show her memories and convey her thoughts through touch." I explained. "Her father can read others minds telepathically and her mother's gift is unknown yet."

"Remarkable, truly. None of my children have exhibited any kind of a special trait. Though, Jennifer is quite intelligent." He mused. "That might just be my next field of study." He smiled at the idea and I forced myself to not shudder. "So, what is this situation that you have asked to speak with me about?"

"A friend of our coven has gone to the Volturi to announce that we've created an immortal child. Aro has decided to raise witnesses against us." Alice jumped in. "I see the future as my talent and so I've seen the events of his decision. The only way to avoid our family being trialed and executed is to raise witnesses of our own. But, that won't be enough. We need a hybrid to testify. If Aro sees that a hybrid, four to be exact, has gone undetected by him for hundreds of years, he'll have to acquit us."

"I'm sorry, but I and my girls won't be able to help you." Joham spoke firmly, his disproval resounding.

"But father!" A young girl no more than ten years old with long dirty blonde hair and Johams same dark eyes cried out as she rounded the corner into the living room. "You can't just let them all die when they're innocent!"

"Jennifer, what have I said about eavesdropping?" Joham frowned at her. "Go back to your room."

"If they've committed a crime, then so have you!" She retorted and I decided immediately that I liked her fighting spirit. "If the Volturi decides that they're guilty, what's to stop them from coming after us next?"

"Jennifer, I said that's enough." Joham snapped at her. "Now, go back to your room while I show our guest out." He ordered and she sent me an apologetic smile before turning and going back up the stairs. "I'll have to ask you all to leave, now."

"Okay." I nodded, standing and urging Alice and Jasper ahead of me out of the house. "Thank you for your consideration, friend. I'll be sure to let Aro know you're quite hospitable." I smiled sarcastically and he sneered back at me before slamming the door shut behind us.

"Follow me." Alice directed as she came out of a vision and Jasper and I quickly followed her deep into the nearby trees. "Jennifer, are you here?" Alice called out sweetly.

Jennifer dropped from a tall tree overhead, landing gracefully on her feet, before offering us all a bright smile.

"I'm so sorry about my father. He keeps an iron fist on us girls after learning of my brothers hatred towards him. He's just worried about losing all of his research." Jennifer frowned at us.

"He should be worried about losing his daughters. I'm sorry he cares so little for you all." Jasper replied.

"I've come to terms with it." She shrugged. "Don't think I'm not planning to escape the first chance I get." She laughed delightfully.

All hybrids must have this same easy magic charm about them, I mused. Her nature seems so much like Elizabeth's that I can't help but feel attached to her already.

"Well, you always have a home with us." I offered. "We occupy the Olympic region. If you ever get free and can't find us, head to Forks, Washington. We have friends there that I'll tell to look out for you and send you to us." I instructed.

"Thank you." She smiled brightly, latching onto me in a tight hug. "I may not be able to help you, but I do know someone who can." She offered as we pulled apart.

"Who?" I asked quickly.

"My brother, Nahuel, and his aunt roam about South America. He has a much more kind approach to humans than that of my fathers ideology, that's my why father thinks so badly of him. If you can find him, I'm sure he'll stand witness for you. Especially if you tell him that I want him to. He's got a big soft spot for me." She giggled.

"Thank you, Jennifer." Alice smiled, hugging her tightly.

"Please, the moment you find a chance to leave, come and find us." Jasper urged her. "You put on a brave face, but my gift allows me to read others emotions. I can tell how badly you want loving parents, and I think my siblings Rosalie and Emmett would love to be parents to you."

"Parents?" She smiled hopefully. "Thank you, I should get back to my room, but I really hope that I'll see you all soon." She nodded, giving us all a tight hug before throwing herself back up into the trees and disappearing overhead.

"Alright, you heard the girl, we're going to South America!" Jasper cheered, causing Alice and I to raise our eyebrows at him.

"Sorry, her happiness got me all stirred up there for a minute." He chuckled, resuming his usual stoic expression.

"I say we take a bit to get ourselves fed well before heading south. I don't want to pause too long in the southern territory." I sighed. "Let's meet back here in a few hours, hmm?"

"Sounds perfect. I'm starving." Alice nodded, pulling Jasper off with her towards the deeper part of the woods surrounding us.

After getting ourselves fed and meeting back up, we all set off for South America.

Luckily, we managed to get through the southern territories of the vampire wars undetected during nightfall thanks to Jasper. But, as soon as the light of the morning started peaking through on the horizon, we were forced to stop and hide out in the nearest hotel we could find. While we were frustrated that we couldn't keep going, the opportunity to shower and rest comfortably was a welcomed relief. After we had all showered and changed from our weeks old clothing, we gathered in the small sitting room of the suite.

"So, how are we going to find Nahuel if I can't see hybrids very well?" Alice asked as she joined Jasper and I after her shower. "I can barely see Elizabeth, but I think that's just because I've been around her so much."

"Carlisle, Esme, Edward, and I met a coven on a hunting trip to the Amazon back in the forties." I told them. "Three girls, all exceptionally beautiful and kind, and so I hope finding them will perhaps get us both more witnesses and lead us to find Nahuel as well."

"That's a good plan." Jasper nodded. "They know the territory. If they've never met him, they'll likely know where to look."

"Now vampires, I can find." Alice smiled proudly. "So we'll wait here until nightfall, then make our way through the territory until we find the Amazon coven."

"Sounds good to me." Jasper nodded. "I wish I could call Esme. I really miss her doting right about now." He frowned as he stretched out on the couch.

"Me too." Alice sighed. "I'd give anything to talk to Edward about my blind spots. Or, have Carlisle hold me like he does." She smiled wistfully. "I don't think he'll ever hug me again for how badly we've hurt him."

"You both are causing my heartache to swell again." I sighed, trying to push the grief back down. "But, I agree, I'm homesick as well."

"We'll be home soon enough and all of this chaos will be over and done with." Alice spoke soundly and I wondered if she was actually as confident as she seemed. "They'll all forgive us. They have to."

"I really hope you're right, Alice." I sighed heavily. "I'm going to go lie down for a bit. I'll see you both at sunset." I told them before drifting off into the other room.

And that's how the next two weeks progressed. We'd travel at night, and during the day if we were well-hidden enough, trekking through South American forest, wetlands, and the Amazon in pursuit of the Amazon coven. The girls wouldn't be hard to miss. Kachiri, the leader, stood at an impressive six feet and four inches with long silky black hair and gorgeously tan dark skin. She looked like a warrior princess, much like her two sisters. Zafrina and Senna were both tall as well, standing at around my same height of five feet and eleven inches. They both had the same long black hair and deeply rich tans as Kachiri. Although adoptive sisters, they all could easily pass as blood.

It was on one of our nighttime treks that we were suddenly ambushed.

One moment, Alice and Jasper had been walking ahead of me while we were waiting on the next vision to hit Alice and guide our next move. The next, all three of us had our feet knocked out from underneath us and were being held by our throats threateningly.

"Cullen." Zafrina, who was holding Alice down across from me, stated in her deep voice. Her shocked eyes staring back at me in horror.

Immediately, we were all dropped and helped back up into our feet just as quickly as we had been knocked down.

"Grace Cullen." Kachiri bowed in greeting to me and I returned it easily. "Forgive us. We did not wait to pounce." She smiled.

"It's alright, Kachiri." I smiled in return. "No one is injured."

"Good." She nodded. "What do we owe your visit to?" She asked me.

"I'm afraid my family is in a bit of trouble." I sighed deeply.

"Cullens are friends. We will stand with you." Kachiri stated immediately and I was touched at the sentiment. "Won't we girls?" She turned to her sisters, always giving them a voice and option.

"We stand with you." Zafrina affirmed confidently and Senna nodded in the same quite authoritative nature I remembered her having.

"Thank you girls." I smiled at them. "I'm afraid we're running out of time. So I'll be brief." I told them before launching into the situation.

After telling them of our dilemma, the three girls all re-affirmed that they would help us. While they didn't know of any hybrid, they did have some ideas where fellow nomads could be inhabiting land in the forest of Peru. Kachiri asked Zafrina and Senna to go to Forks to aid Carlisle, and I asked that they not tell them about seeing me alive. They quickly agreed and left for Forks after hugging their sister goodbye.

"You really dont know how much I appreciate your help, Kachiri." I told her as she navigated our way through the Amazonian forest of Peru days later, keeping to the outskirts in an attempt to keep us as hidden as possible. "I know it's a great sacrifice."

"No sacrifice." She shook her head. "An honor to stand with innocent friends." She assured me. "I'm curious to meet the child you speak of. She sounds quite gifted." She smiled at me from over her shoulder. "Speaking of gifts, how is yours doing?" She asked.

"Quite well." I smiled proudly, knowing our illusionist gifts are similar in concept. "I've had a lot of practice these past few years. I managed to trick an entire town that I was pregnant instead of my daughter during her pregnancy."

"Impressive." She nodded. "I'm good at changing the location around someone. I haven't tried changing looks, though, I'm not sure I have much need to with your talent, my friend." She chuckled. "I'm glad to hear my fellow illusionist is doing well." She nodded, before freezing in place. "There." She directed, pulling me a mile ahead of where we were and and pointing off through the trees.

Looking to where she was pointing, I could easily see the two vampires several yards ahead of us in the jungle. They were just as on alert as we were.

The woman was short in stature with a warm skin tone, dark wild hair, and dark deep set eyes. She stood in front of the the boy, Nahuel, I realized as I picked up on his hybrid qualities, and she seemed very protective of him. She must be the aunt Jennifer mentioned.

"Hello, we mean no harm." I smiled easily, stepping out of the thick covering foliage into a space where they could see me easier. "My name is Grace Cullen. Your sister Jennifer sent me to you, Nahuel."

"Jennifer?" He questioned, putting a hand on his aunt to signal for her to stand down. "What's wrong?" He worried for her as he neared me.

"Nothing." I soothed him. "You see, I have a daughter just like you."

"A hybrid?" He questioned, an interested expression on his face.

"Yes, my granddaughter that I care for as her mother, actually." I clarified. "The Volturi is coming to exterminate her and my family. They're claiming that she's an immortal child, though that is far from the truth." I explained. "I asked your father, who's an old acquaintance of mine, for his aid. But, he denied, and so your sister Jennifer suggested that I find you. She told me to tell you that she really hoped that you would help us." I explained.

"My father?" He sneered. "I won't help a friend to my father." He shook his head, turning away from me.

"Your father is no friend of mine." I stated firmly. "I said he was an acquaintance. I met him decades ago, before you were even born, and he explained his experiments and ideology's to me. I honestly thought he was just lying and delusional, but after my daughter became pregnant, I knew he had told me the truth. I do not believe the same way about humans as your father does. My family and I live and work with humans, care for them even, as we feed only on animal blood."

"Is that why your eyes are so different?" He asked me incredulously.

"Yes." I smiled. "We lack blood in our tissues and so light reflects in golden shades in our pupils."

"Who is 'we'?" He asked.

"Myself, my twin brother Carlisle and his wife Esme, their children Rosalie, Alice, and Jasper, and then my sons Emmett and Edward." I replied. "We all live together in harmony due to our uncompetitive diet. We call each other family. Alice, Jasper, come say hello." I urged them and they quickly joined my side.

"Hello, Nahuel." Alice greeted easily. "I'm Alice."

"Jasper." He introduced with a careful handshake.

"And what do you both refer to her as?" He asked them.

"She's our aunt." Alice answered. "Aunt Grace and our cousins Emmett, Edward, and now Bella and Elizabeth. Although, I really refer to Elizabeth as my niece."

"Elizabeth? That's the hybrids name?" He asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "Elizabeth Grace Cullen. She's quite a remarkable child."

"I imagine so." Nahuel nodded thoughtfully before speaking words that gave me my first real moment of happiness since losing Charlie. "Aunt Huilen, I want to help them."