Death's Shadow 3

PRESENT DAY: ALASKA

“How did you get this cat to be comfortable around vampires?”Victoria asked as she watched a three legged, one eyed black and white cat that was missing part of it’s ear jump up and lay on Rosalie’s lap.She had never seen an animal react like that when around vampires.Then again the vampires she was visiting with the Cullens were somewhat odd as well.After being mated to Rosalie for over two months Carlisle insisted that Victoria be introduced to their closet friends.Victoria wasn’t happy about doing it but her gift told her she was safe around them.Not that she was going to let her guard down anytime soon.

“It’s not comfortable around vampires.It’s only comfortable around the sisters and Rosalie.”Alice had tried many times to get the cat to like her but no matter what she did the cat refused to warm up to her.

“That’s because you have good taste.”Rosalie cooed at the cat while she gently stroked it’s fur causing it to begin purring.

“But still how did you get it comfortable around vampires?”Victoria asked again.

“We didn’t Bella did.”Kate told her.

“Who’s Bella?”Victoria hadn’t heard of anyone named Bella being mentioned before.

“Bella is Tanya’s imaginary mate.”Emmett said.

Tanya rolled her eyes.“Bella is not imaginary.”

“If she isn’t imaginary then why haven’t we met her yet?”Edward knew that Tanya made up having a mate just so that she had an excuse to turn him down.It irritated him to no end that the coven leader refused his advances.The fact that he couldn’t read her mind was just more proof to him that they were meant to be together.

“Trust me you don’t want to meet Bella.”Kate had no doubt that Bella would kill Edward the first time he opened his mouth.

“Actually we do.Especially because she takes you on really cool trips.”Alice picked up a framed photo off of the top of the fireplace and held it up so everyone could see it.”Like when she took you to Egypt and you were able to visit the pyramids during the day without the sun effecting your skin.”

Kate looked at the photo of herself doing a one armed hand stand on top of a pyramid.”That was a fun trip.”

“How were you able to go out in the sun?”Victoria hadn’t ever heard of a vampire that didn’t sparkle.

“Bella has a gift that blocks the sun’s rays that protects the people around her as well.”Tanya wasn’t comfortable speaking about Bella’s abilities but they had so many pictures of the coven out in the sun that it was bound to come up.

“That’s why you need to introduce us.So we can travel with you guys.”Emmett had a list of sunny places he wanted to go to.That would only happen if Tanya introduced them to Bella.

“It would be nice to be able to tour certain parts of the world during the day.”Carlisle wanted to experience the world without having to worry about the sun.Being a creature of the night limited what they could do.

“I don’t think Bella would be willing to travel with you.”Irina knew that Bella didn’t even want to meet the Cullens let alone travel with them.

“Why do you keep her hidden?”Edward asked.

“I don’t keep her hidden.She just prefers to not interact with certain people.”Tanya was being truthful Bella hated interacting with anyone who wasn’t their coven or the royals.

“Why wouldn’t she want to interact with us?We are your closest friends.”Carlisle didn’t understand why Tanya wouldn’t introduce them to her mate.

“Bella doesn’t really like to interact with anyone but Tanya.She merely puts up with me and Kate because Tanya cares about us.”Irina was sure that Bella had grown to love both she and Kate but it had taken centuries before the dangerous vampire was comfortable enough to have a conversation with either of them without Tanya around.

“How long have you been mated to her?”Victoria asked.

“We met Bella around the 1100’s.”Tanya didn’t like to think about that first meeting as it brought back memories of their mother’s betrayal.

“And yet even though you have been mated all that time no one can claim they have ever met Bella.”Edward found that to be more proof that Bella didn’t exist.If Bella was as old as the sisters then someone would have met her.

“Look I don’t care if you think Bella is a figment of my imagination.I know she is real and that’s all that really matters.”Tanya was sick of the Cullens always questioning her about Bella.It made her hate when they visited.

“Fine if you are mated then where is your mating mark?”Edward had never seen one and didn’t think Tanya had one.If she did she would show it off.

“It’s none of your business where my mating mark is and if you ask again I will physically remove you from my home.”Tanya threatened.She wasn’t going to show anyone her mating mark.Not that she was ashamed of it she just didn’t want deal with the questions she would get if anyone saw it.Bella was not human and because of that her bite mark was not normal.Bella had two sets of teeth where a normal human only had one.You couldn’t tell by looking at her but the mark left behind clearly showed two rings of teeth where there should have been one.

Carlisle cut Edward off before he could argue further.“Son enough.If Tanya says she is mated then she is mated.She has no reason to lie to us about something so important.”

“So where did you get the cat?”Victoria asked trying to calm the room.Her gift was starting to buzz and she had no doubt if Edward continued pushing that a fight would break out.

“Bella found Lilith during her travels.She was a stray who kept turning up at the same places Bella did.Bella decided that the gods sent her to her to take care of so she gave her a bath, fed her, and cared for her wounds.After Lilith was feeling better Bella brought her home and she has been with us ever since.”Tanya smiled fondly at the cranky feline who had a soft spot for Rosalie.

“She thought god sent her a cat?”Victoria asked.

“Bella is extremely religious.Everything she does is influenced by her faith.If she says the gods sent that cat to her then I have no doubt that the gods sent the cat.”Tanya had seen many examples of the gods interfering with Bella’s life.It made not only Tanya but her sisters firm believers that the gods existed.

“You said gods.That’s wrong there is only one god.”Edward told her.

“Only the foolish would think that there is only one god.”Kate said.

“I’m not foolish.I know for a fact there is only one god.”Edward wasn’t going to stand for such blasphemy.

“What facts do you have that prove there is only one god?”Irina was interested in what facts Edward had to prove his statement.She knew that they wouldn’t be as compelling as the ones Bella had shown them to prove her own gods existed.

“The Bible is the only proof I need.”Edward looked to his sire.”Tell them Carlisle.Tell them there is only one god.”

Carlisle cleared his throat uncomfortably.This wasn’t a topic he liked to argue about as he knew how passionate the sisters were about religion.”In my opinion there is only one god.”

“See Carlisle agrees and he would know because out all of us he has the closest relationship to our Heavenly Father.”Edward knew that Carlisle would back him.

”You think out of all of us Carlisle has the closest relationship with the gods?”Kate laughed at the very idea.If anyone had a close relationship with the gods it was Bella who was their divine messenger.

Edward nodded.”He has never been tempted to drink human blood and has always kept his faith.Plus he has been instrumental in teaching others like yourselves the more humane way to feed.”

“Carlisle didn’t teach us how to feed from animals.We had been doing that for centuries before he was even born.”Irina and her sisters had changed because they didn’t like being murderers.That and having to dispose of bodies was a hassle.

“But Carlisle told us you used to seduce and kill humans until he came along and showed you how to hunt animals.”Alice and all the other Cullens had heard the stories of the Denali succubi.They just never brought it up in front of the sisters because it was impolite.

“What the hell are you talking about?”Kate had never heard anything so stupid.

“Yeah Carlisle told us that you are the reason the myth of the succubus exists.You used to have sex with humans and drain them when you were done with them.”Emmett had heard the same stories as Alice.

“Carlisle you tell people this lie?”Tanya couldn’t believe that someone she thought of as a friend would say such things about her and her sisters.

“It’s not a lie.I was told by someone when I lived in the castle.”Carlisle said.

“Alright say we believe you were told by someone else how do you explain your claim of teaching us about the animal diet?”Irina asked.

“Well it’s just…I..my children…”Carlisle stuttered out.

“Why have you been lying about our history?”Kate couldn’t wait to tell Bella about this.Kate knew that Bella would go all Death’s Shadow and try to kill Carlisle.It would be up to Tanya to talk her out of it.

“I haven’t been lying.”Carlisle denied as he tried to think of a way to get himself out this situation without telling the truth.

“Many statements have been made.Which ones aren’t lies?”Irina was thinking the same thing as Kate.Once Bella found out about this she was going to want to kill Carlisle.It made Irina wonder if Bella had heard any of the rumors already.Irina would ask her when she came home.

“I did hear about the succubus rumors at the castle and I did tell them to others including my family.”Carlisle said.

“What about the fact that you told people you were the reason we switched to animal blood?”Tanya wasn’t going to let Carlisle off the hook.

“I didn’t tell people that.”Carlisle once again denied.

“Bullshit.You tell everyone you come in contact with that the Denali gave up their succubus ways and turned to animal blood because you convinced them it was the more humane option.You told Victoria about it two months ago when she was still undecided about changing her diet.”Rosalie said.She wasn’t afraid to throw Carlisle under the bus.Finding out he had lied and made the sisters out to be nothing more than sex fiends pissed her off.

“That’s true.You were keen to tell me if the Denali were able to adapt to animal blood than anyone could.”Victoria said.

Carlisle shifted uncomfortably in his seat.”I may have used the story to inspire others.I meant no harm.”

“Sullying our reputation and claiming our achievements as your own is meaning no harm?”Tanya was trying to control her anger but it was hard when faced with such a betrayal.

“It was important to tell people that it was possible to change to the animal diet no matter what obstacles were in the way.I’m sure you can understand.”Carlisle was sure the Denali would forgive him for such a good cause.

“I understand that Bella is going to be pissed.”Kate exclaimed in glee.

Tanya glared at Carlisle.”We have invited you into our home and helped you create a stable life for yourself and your coven and you repay us by telling people we are immoral harlots.Harlots that were shown the error of our ways because you were nice enough to take pity on us?!”

“That’s not what I did.”Carlisle tried to think of a way to turn this around but wasn’t coming up with anything that would help.

“That is exactly what you did.”Rosalie said as she rubbed Lilith’s belly.She smiled when the cat reached up with her front paw and kneaded the air.

“How do you want to deal with him?”Irina asked.

“I say we let Bella have him.”Kate felt Bella would be the perfect person to defend the sisters’ honor.

“Does he deserve death for this?”Tanya wasn’t opposed to involving her mate but wanted to make sure Carlisle deserved the punishment.

“I think so.”Irina said.

“Don’t you threaten Carlisle.”Edward wasn’t going to put up with any threats to his father.

“She won’t want to have to deal with the whole coven.”Tanya told her ignoring Edward.

“Maybe we can just have her kill him quickly so she doesn’t have to be bothered with anyone else.”Kate suggested.

Edward growled.”No one is killing Carlisle!”

“Then what should we do with him?”Irina asked.

“You should thank him for saving you from a life of sin.”Edward believed Carlisle saved the sisters.They were denying it because they were embarrassed by their past.

Kate laughed.”You idiot if anyone saved anyone it was us who saved Carlisle.Or did he fail to mention that when the kings kicked him out of the castle we were the ones who taught him how live amongst humans.We got him his first job, bought him his first house and continued to support him financially until he was finally making his own money.”

“Is that true?”Alice had never been told any of that.She always thought that Carlisle left the Volturi freely not been kicked out.

“Wow Carlisle you really are a horrible person.”Irina couldn’t believe what a fraud their so called friend was.

“He isn’t horrible!!You are lying.”Edward knew that Carlisle made his own way.He never got help from the sisters because he didn’t need it.

“Anything to say Carlisle?”Tanya asked.

Carlisle stared at the floor in shock.He couldn’t believe how everything had unraveled so quickly.He was now regretting insisting that they visit the sisters to introduce Victoria.”I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”Emmett wanted to know what was going on.It seemed like everything their sire had ever told them was a lie.

“Carlisle is it true or not?”Alice wanted to say the sisters were lying but Carlisle wasn’t even putting up a fight.

“Of course it’s true.If it wasn’t Carlisle wouldn’t be staring at the floor like an idiot.He would be defending himself.”Rosalie believed the sisters.They were honest to the point of being brutal sometimes.Plus they had no reason to lie.

“Carlisle say something.We know they are lying because you have always been truthful with us.”Edward knew that Carlisle wouldn’t lie to him.Even now Carlisle’s mind was thinking of what the sisters had said.He wasn’t focused on the truth.

“Edward you are a fucking mind reader.You of all people should know he is lying.”Kate wasn’t surprised that Edward was clinging to Carlisle.The pair had an unnatural attachment to each other.

“He is only thinking about the words you said not what really happened.”Edward said.

“Oh my god.”Rosalie huffed which caused Lilith to stir in her lap.She began to slowly pet it.”Shh it’s alright I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Carlisle you have two choices.One you can admit the truth here and now and we can find a way to rebuild our friendship.Two you can take yourself and your family,leave our territory and never contact us again.”Tanya preferred he took option two.

“Wait a second you are kicking us out to?”Emmett didn’t want to lose his cousins over this.

“You are part of the Cullen coven.Carlisle is your coven leader.If he continues to disrespect us by telling these lies then he is no longer our ally.As members of his coven you unfortunately will have to deal with the repercussions that come with your coven leader’s actions.”Tanya hated to have to cut ties with some of the Cullen children but she wasn’t going to let Carlisle continue to tell lies about them.

“Carlisle just tell the truth.”Alice didn’t understand why not only Carlisle lied but why he refused to tell the truth now that he was exposed.

“I think it’s time for us to leave.”Carlisle wasn’t going to admit to anything.He was sad that he was losing the Denali as allies but it wasn’t that big of a deal.It really didn’t benefit the Cullens by aligning themself with the sisters so cutting off contact wouldn’t effect them much.

“You are so predictable.”Rosalie said as she gently picked Lilith up and set her on the empty seat next to her.Standing she grabbed Victoria’s hand.”Before we leave I want to make it known that I in no way believe Carlisle.The only reason I am going is because I am a member of the coven.If I wasn’t I would side with you.”

“Thank you Rosalie.”Tanya was sad that they weren’t going to see Rosalie again.The blond fit in well with the sisters and although they didn’t really get a chance to speak Tanya felt that Victoria would have been a good fit as well.

“Sorry Tanya.”Emmett wasn’t happy about leaving but just like Rosalie he was part of the coven.

“I understand Emmett.”Tanya did understand.The Cullens were young and didn’t know the world outside of what Carlisle had told them.They would of course stand with their sire.They didn’t know any better.

“I’ll speak to him.”Esme wasn’t sure what Carlisle was thinking but she was going to make him tell her the truth.

“Good luck with that.”Tanya didn’t think Carlisle would admit his wrongdoings to anyone even his own mate.

“I’m going to be contacting Aro to file a formal complaint about the way you have treated Carlisle.”Edward knew that the royals would punish the Denali for attacking Carlisle’s character.

“When you talk to him tell him we said hi.”Kate wasn’t worried about Aro.Even if she and her sisters broke the law he wouldn’t come after them.He was too afraid of Bella.

“You can tell him yourself when you face him in the throne room.”Edward said before storming out of the house.

Tanya sighed as she watched them leave.”Well that was exciting.”

“I can’t believe Carlisle has been telling all those lies about us.”Irina said.

“I now understand some of the comments people have made about us.”Kate had heard others make derogatory comments about her and her sisters but Kate thought they were just horrible people.Now she knew that it was because Carlisle had told them false stories.

“It makes me wonder if all of the times I’ve been approach for sex were because the person was actually interested or they wanted to find out what it was like to sleep with a succubus.”Tanya bet that some of the people who made passes at her only did it because they thought she was a succubus.

“What do you think is going to happen with the Cullens.I doubt they will make it out of this situation intact.”Irina wouldn’t be surprised if some of them broke off from the family.

“It depends on what else Carlisle has been lying to them about.I have no doubt that if Carlisle went out of his way to lie about our involvement in his life then he has lied about a great many other things.”Tanya wondered if Carlisle even knew what the truth was anymore.

“What I don’t get is why did he lie about anything?I mean what did he gain from telling people that we were sluts who were only redeemed because of him.”Kate couldn’t figure that part out.Why would Carlisle go to the trouble of making up stories?

“I’m beginning to realize that we didn’t know Carlisle that well at all.Then again once he changed Edward he has been visiting us less frequently.”Tanya just assumed it was because he had his own coven to take care of and didn’t have time to spare.

“Do you think we should send Bella to visit him?”Irina asked.

“Can we please?”Kate would love for Bella to take care of Carlisle.

“I don’t think this would be an appropriate situation to involve Bella in.”Tanya cut off Kate before she could speak.”You know she will kill him and even though I wouldn’t mind him being dead it wouldn’t be the right thing to do.”

“I hate that you’re right.”Kate grumbled.

“I hate that I am to.”Tanya wished she could just have Bella kill him but he hadn’t broken any laws.

“That being said what else do you think Carlisle has been lying about.I doubt just our origins.”Irina said.

“From the way his children reacted to me saying he was kicked out of the castle I think he didn’t tell them about his falling out with the kings.That and the fact that Edward threatened to call Aro kind of proves he didn’t.”Kate knew Edward wouldn’t make that threat if he knew the reason Carlisle wasn’t part of the Volturi anymore.

“I know that helping him all those years ago was the right thing to do but now I’m regretting it.I mean how pitiful do you have to be to tarnish three women’s reputation to make yourself look good and after all we have done for him.What an asshole.”Tanya regretted not punching Carlisle in the face before he left.

“Shit Tanya you really are pissed.You just said a swear word.”Kate was shocked to hear her sister curse.Tanya along with Bella never used foul language.For Tanya to slip meant she was very mad.

“We took that man in and taught him the skills to survive and he repays us by telling everyone we are nothing but a bunch immoral women who seduced and killed humans until he came and saved us.When we met him I had been mated to Bella for centuries and the three of us were already drinking animal blood.He had nothing to do with the way we lived.It was us who taught him.So yes I am pissed.Pissed because we have been betrayed and apparently it has been going on for a long time.”Tanya ended her rant with an angry foot stomp.

“Who else do you think he told these stories to?”Irina asked.

“Probably every vampire he has come in contact with.”Kate said.

“I think I’m going to go hunt.Bella promised to call in a couple hours and I want be calm when we speak.It wouldn’t be good if she knew I was this upset.”Tanya knew that Bella would hunt down and kill every single person who ever repeated Carlisle’s lies if she knew that it upset Tanya so much.That’s why Tanya needed a minute alone to get control of her emotions.

“It definitely would not.”Kate agreed.

“I’ll be back soon.”Tanya made her way out of the house waving over her shoulder in reply to the goodbyes shouted after her.She really wasn’t sure what think about this whole situation.She wanted to brush it off and say it wasn’t that big of a deal but to her and her sisters it was.Carlisle may have not physically hurt them but he did hurt their reputation.In the vampire world one’s reputation was the thing that opened or closed doors for you.It made Tanya wonder how many opportunities they had missed out on because of a vampire finding their made up past disgusting and them not being people they wanted to associate with.Maybe she would ask Bella to investigate.Tanya wanted to know the extent of the damage.If she knew then she could start correcting people’s perception of them.It was going to be hard to make people believe the truth but Tanya wouldn’t rest until she and her sisters were vindicated.