52 | AWKWARD |

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"SO YOU'RE THE INFAMOUS AURORA."

"And you're Maria, this is Alice, and we all know Jasper," Rory rattled off as she pushed through the jungle brush. She didn't even bother correcting the vampire, she definitely didn't want Maria calling her Rory and she definitely didn't want Maria tagging along. Unfortunately, Rory could only ensure one of those things.

This was exactly what Rory expected Maria to be like. A catty, demonic woman whose very presence brought out the worst in Rory. She never thought she'd ever meet the woman in the face of her family's impending demise, having no choice but to be nice in order to secure another witness for the brewing confrontation. She wasn't trying to be so bitter, but something about the Mexican vampire who inserted herself into their group that just boiled her blood. Maria had no idea where they were going, but she didn't ask many questions, more concerned with reminiscing over the good old days that Jasper remembered. They were trekking into the very depths of the rainforest of Brazil now.

"Oh, I heard about you, Rory," the gorgeous, dark haired, red-lipped vampire drawled, her voice slow and dark like molasses. "The Mind Controller," she said mockingly with a giggle. "But you're just a cute little baby vamp—I can't see how you've made all this fuss. A mind controller," she repeated with a small laugh.

"Rory's ability is not exaggerated," Jasper tried to defend his fiancée while keeping the peace. "She is very gifted," he said assuringly, extremely uncomfortable by Maria's presence.

Maria smiled fakely. "I'm sure she is."

Rory's left eye twitched.

"Maria, what do you think about..." Rory was never more grateful for Alice than that moment for saving her from tearing the bitch apart before the sun even set.

She couldn't believe Jasper and Alice both agreed to let her not only tag along with them, but also be a witness. Maria was an old enemy of the Volturi for being one of the main creators of the newborn armies that wreaked havoc in the U.S and central America. But the logic of having more witnesses than less was what tipped the bucket over. Rory insinuated sending Maria to Forks like they did Charlotte and Peter, but Maria seemed determined to tag along.

"So, are we looking for some sort of coven deep in the jungle or something?" Maria finally ran out of old war memories, looking a little roughed up from the various conditions they traveled under.

Jasper, Alice, and Rory exchanged a look before Jasper replied to her, "Yes."

It was better she didn't know.

Maria smirked coyly at Jasper, "What have you been up to since we last saw each other, Major? It's been what, twenty, thirty years since we saw each other last?"

"Try 1944," Jasper said shortly. "You were in Germany."

"Oh, how time flies," Maria swiped at his shoulder playfully. Rory's eye twitched as she harshly pushed through a thick brush of thorns. Maria smiled, "You know human wars are the best time to go off on a blood frenzy. Drain as many bodies as you want, no one suspects any different."

"You left the humans to suffer," he regarded her coldly, remembering all the bodies found in the forests of war-torn Germany. It was then he knew he could no longer feed from humans, stealing from the blood banks for the next decade and a half until Alice found him.

"It wasn't my job to save them, Major," Maria rolled her eyes. "Always so sensitive."

Jasper didn't respond, walking further ahead of the group, his mind filled with dark memories of his past. Alice met Rory's eyes, the two trading incredulous looks at the audacity of the woman.

"I need a bite to eat," she announced as though expecting them to all stop in their tracks to listen to her. They continued walking until Maria huffed. "Rory, will you be a darling and come along so I don't get lost?"

Maria looked at her expectantly as they all stopped. Rory could tell she wasn't going to stop annoying them until someone listened to her. Jasper and Alice didn't look eager to volunteer either, and Rory wasn't fond of leaving Jasper alone with his manipulative ex. She really didn't trust Maria.

Seeing that the sky was already dark, and they were no closer to a hybrid than before, Rory had no excuse to refuse Maria's mealtime. "We're literally—ugh. Okay." Rory handed her backpack filled with newly bought clothes and maps to Jasper. "Go on ahead, I'll catch up."

Alice gave her an apologetic look. "We'll stay in the same path."

Jasper turned to Rory and leaned down to kiss her firmly, twisting his fingers in her hair, pulling her close until they nearly melded together. Rory hoped the moonlight reflected the shine of her engagement ring, strategically shown in Maria's direction. Maybe it was a little too theatrical and extra of a kiss, but it was a pointed action.

Rory pulled back with a smirk. "Catch you later, Major," she grinned as she whirled around to run in the path of the nearest town.

The first ten minutes of the trip was silent given that they were running through the jungle until they stopped in the small town. When  it came down to waiting for the right person to feed on in the dark, sketchy allies, unsuspecting drug dealers, or homeless people, or a lost tourist even, that allowed for some unwanted conversation.

"You know," Maria drawled, causing Rory to automatically roll her eyes without the rest of her sentence being said. "I never thought Jasper would find another me, pero creo que estaba equivocado," she trailed off in a soft laugh. (But I think I was wrong.)

"Soy nada como usted," Rory hissed, her lips curling upwards in indignation. (I'm nothing like you.)

Maria crossed her arms as she sized Rory up and down. "You are pretty, I must admit, but you don't have the grit a man like Jasper needs."

"Why are you even here again?" Rory growled, her hands forming into fists at her side.

"Like I said, Jasper and I have history. Some things never change between two people," Maria said with a triumphant, condescending smile.

Rory's eyes narrowed, no longer twitching. Don't kill her. Don't kill her. Don't—

"—I mean, clearly, Jasper only picked you because he was bored. Who could blame him, being in that little coven of sanctimonious vegetarians—"

That was it. Rory looked at her darkly and shoved her against the wall, holding her by her throat. "I'm done playing nice with you, Maria. I only tolerate you for my family's sake, but be warned, if you continue to push me, I won't hesitate next time, bitch."

Maria laughed, looking not at all bothered. "It's adorable you think you can just threaten me like that."

Rory smiled thinly. "Fine." She stepped back and Maria stepped around Rory, thinking she had intimidated the mind controller.

"That's what I thought," Maria hummed and snickered, shaking her head.

Rory crossed her arms and raised her chin as she stared at Maria darkly. Tear out your tongue.

To Maria's utter shock, her hands went to her mouth, and ripped her tongue out. She let out a horrified scream, confused by why she had done that. Her hand refused to reattach the organ in her mouth, simply held away from her face. She whirled around to face Rory, who now had a dark, amused look on her face.

"Say another word about Jasper or my family again, and it'll be the last words you speak. Comprende?" (Understand)

Maria nodded quickly, her eyes filled with terror. She pointed at her ripped out tongue.

Rory sighed, "I really hoped it would last longer, but I am feeling nice today. You can reattach your tongue."

The tongue easily reattached itself once it was in place, the venom sealing the tissues together.

For a few minutes, Maria was quiet, reassessing the situation. Rory was much more than she gave her credit for. Impressing, really, but Maria didn't have to like it. She huffed, "I don't have to stand as witness against the Volturi for your coven. You're lucky I pity Jasper much more than I dislike you."

"No one wants your pity," Rory rolled her eyes, "but, you're right."

Maria waited for an apology.

Rory continued with a sneer, " And I'm not dealing with you anymore. Find your own meal, puta." (Bitch.)

Before Maria had a chance to question what Rory meant, Rory flashed right in front of her, holding Maria's gaze as molten silver leaked from Rory's lips. "You will go to Forks, find the Cullens, and stay there until we return. Leave Peter and Charlotte alone while you're at it too. No roundabouts, don't even think about betraying us. You're leaving for Forks. Now."

➖

"So you're Alec."

"No, I'm Jane."

This wasn't exactly what Alec had in mind when he decided to leave everything he had known for the last millennia for a girl who was never where she said she was. Alec had no fantasy of changing her mind or complicating her relationship with her beloved, but he didn't want her to die. He had come to speak to Rory, warn the Cullens, not involve himself in the matter, and proceed to go off on a much need sabbatical somewhere on the other side of the globe.

However, the world hated Alec and so for the last week and a half, he had been stuck in Forks, with a shitload of other vampires, who either despised him or feared him, including the Cullens. Surprisingly, it took only Edward reading his mind to see that Alec wasn't pulling any elaborate trick and he had fully left the Volturi, for everyone to mostly accept him into the motley group of witnesses.

How he ended up being roped into a being witness against his former coven for the Cullen's hybrid daughter had little to do with Alec desiring to help the Cullens out and more to do with the little hybrid's saddened pout and the Cullen matriarch's hug reminding him too much of his own mother. Maybe he felt more alone than he had in ages to be willing to "wait a few more days for Rory".

In actuality, he didn't even have any intention to fight the Volturi as his last words to his sister might have misled. He only said it to be dramatic. Once he saw Rory one last time, he would be out. But, in all honesty, he already knew he was in way too deep. Way too deep. Fan-fucking-tastic.

"Huh. You're exactly like I thought you'd be," Bella crossed her arms as she squinted at the tall mysterious brunette.

He had just returned from feeding in Seattle—the Cullens made them (the normal vampires) all promise to not kill anyone in the near region. It was cumbersome, but whatever. He arched his brow at the newborn. "Evil? Sadistic? Tall, dark, and handsome?"

Alec was like a shadow, preferring to keep to himself and avoid all interaction. He had shed everything that made him recognizable as a Volturi guard, no longer donning the black cloak and gaudy chain around his neck. He seemed almost normal, except for his penchant to wordlessly glower at a person attempting to speak to him until they went away.

"Desperate." Bella crossed her arms as she shrugged.

Alec scoffed, tilting his head at the decidedly deranged woman. "I beg your pardon?"

"Desperate to prove yourself. Desperate to have someone want you, the real you," Bella continued with a understanding smile. "To feel irrevocably accepted for you. I've recognized it in myself enough to see it in you."

He stared at her for a long moment. "When will Rory return?" Alec raised his brow pointedly at the former human, ignoring the rest of her bonding attempt. He didn't like anyone save for his sister and Rory, and Isabella's attempts to pick him apart psychologically were certainly not going to change that.

Bella sighed, wondering how Rory could stand the vampire. "I told you—I don't know if Rory's coming back."

She had followed the secret instructions they had left behind, the passports, the new identities, she even had over $3 million in cash stuffed in Renesmee's backpack. Her daughter would live while she and Edward died to protect her.

"You're a terrible liar." Alec zeroed his gaze in the newborn's eyes suspiciously. "You know something."

Bella clenched her jaw. Rory had warned her Alec was very good at figuring things out. She pursed her lips, "I don't owe you an answer."

"I'm helping you and your entire family. I'm sure you could spare me an answer or two," Alec raised his brow, knowing he was close to breaking the woman. She was a bit soft for a newborn. "It's common courtesy."

They were interrupted by the appearance of the little girl. "Mommy," Renesmee tugged at her mother's jacket, glancing at Alec curiously, but she knew her Tia Rory's friend didn't like her very much and was quite mean. But Renesmee was determined to speak to her mother.

Isabella shot Alec an apologetic look and as she bent over to speak to the girl face to face, he stared at the hybrid child curiously. He'd never imagined that hybrids were really the perfect mixture of humans and vampires. He listened to her heartbeat, so loud and so fast it beat like a hummingbird's wings, her cheeks flushed a crimson hue from running about.

Renesmee smiled at her mother. "I was with Uncle Emmett and Auntie Rose watching Sleeping Beauty, when I saw this cool instrument. I wanna learn it!"  she exclaimed excitedly.

Alec was embarrassed to know exactly what the girl was speaking of. As she touched her mother's cheek, Alec imagined the girl was projecting an image as he heard was her pitiful excuse of a gift. She had tried to touch him before, to supposedly show him her truth as she had showed the other vampires, but of course, Alec refused. Children were dirty, sticky, loud creatures who formed attachments much too hastily for his taste.

"Oh that's wonderful, Nessie," Bella cooed, holding her daughter's hands and nodding happily. "I bet Dad knows how to play the violin—he'll teach you."

Ugh. Alec didn't leave everything he knew to watch Isabella Swan parent her brat that caused this entire ordeal. So, he left the two without another word, resuming his post on the roof of the house where it was all nice and quiet.

➖

"Before you even ask—I sent Maria to Forks." Rory said exasperatedly, explaining her solo return as she approached Alice and Jasper who had stopped in a small clearing. The moonlight shined bright overhead, filtering down the rainforest overhanging. They looked at her amusedly and Rory huffed, "I just couldn't deal with her irritating ass any longer."

Jasper hugged her tightly. "Honestly surprised you didn't tear that bitch apart," he said half-sarcastically.

"Just a little bit," Rory shrugged, leaving Jasper to raise his brows questioningly.

"Good riddance," Alice agreed, not giving Jasper time to investigate her meaning. "And onto more great news—we found them. The hybrid, he or she, is somewhere close by."

Rory grinned widely. "Seriously?"

"Alice was watching for your future, when suddenly it went blank," Jasper elaborated, looking in the distance for any sign of the elusive hybrid. "We found a few barefoot human track prints, and no villager goes this deep in the rainforest so it has to be theirs."

The trio wandered further into the forest, looking for more clues. It was another day and a half in the humid rainforest before Alice suddenly whirled around in a 180 degree turn. It was just after dusk and they hadn't seen any sign for hours. Rory and Jasper copied her movements.

"Do you smell that?" Alice asked excitedly.

"Blood." Rory inhaled deeply, her golden eyes going black. "Human blood."

They were running, following the scent blindly. They arrived near the river, where two human bodies were being properly disposed, heads beheaded and completely drained so that they would not turn. The male and female turned around to face them, surprised by the three's unexpected interruption.

However, Alice, Jasper, and Rory weren't threatened by them, the woman crouched forward as if to attack them for intruding, they hardly noticed for the young man's fast, thrumming heartbeat kept their attention.

He was a hybrid.

Rory felt her eyes return to normal and her throat no longer burned with thirst as she smiled at the cautious pair. "Hello," Rory greeted the pair in spanish, hoping even if they spoke a different dialect, they were familiar enough with her mother's language to understand her. "My name is Rory. This is Jasper and Alice. We mean no harm," she raised her hands to show the guarded pair they weren't going to attack them.

Jasper sent waves of peace and friendliness to the two, clearing away any hostility they had felt at their abrupt, unsolicited arrival.

"I am Huilen," the woman announced in clear but accented English. "You are not from here." The olive-toned female vampire had a long braid of black hair and a fierce expression. She was bare footed, her skin the flawless texture of a vampire. Her deep burgundy eyes were guarded as they trained on Alice, Jasper, and Rory, analyzing their clothing and disposition.

"No we aren't. We're from the U.S," Rory clarified with a reassuring smile.

The young man beside Huilen with rich, dark brown skin, like the color of melted caramel, regarded them warily. His hair was black and braided, too, like the woman's, though not as long. He was as beautiful as any other vampire. "I'm Nahuel." He looked at their golden hued eyes, contrasting with Huilen's, but not as much as his own teak colored human eyes. "You are like us, but not. How?"

"We drink the blood of animals," Jasper explained sheepishly. "It affects the shade of our eyes."

"That is disgusting," Huilen recoiled, looking as if she had experienced the taste herself.

"It's a living," Rory shrugged before staring at Nahuel in amazement once more. Huilen stepped in front of him protectively.

Rory backed away innocently, "I'm sorry for staring. We've just been looking for you for so long, I can't believe we actually found you."

"You seek me?" Nahuel tilted his head. "Why?"

Alice stepped forward. "We need your help."

"From what?" Huilen was more reluctant than Nahuel to drop her guard.

"Have you heard of the Volturi?" Jasper asked, prepared to give an abridged version of the conflict.

"We're isolated, not idiots." Huilen appeared briefly offended by the question, but was more curious on why it was asked. "Those are the vampires who rule our kind. Why do you need us?"

"Hybrids like Nahuel are rare and almost impossible to find—it's taken us weeks to track you down and she can see the future," Rory jutted her thumb at Alice casually. "The Volturi are gathering witnesses to condemn our family to death based on the supposed belief that my niece is an immortal child, but she's like you, Nahuel, she's a hybrid."

A crease formed between Nahuel's brows. "Her father has sent you to ask for our help?"

"You express familiarity, but I don't think we speak of the same person," Jasper interrupted, having read the hybrid's emotions. "His name is Edward and the mother's name is Bella."

"Oh." Nahuel's eyes filled with surprise and relief. "I thought my father was at it again. His name is Joham," Nahuel looked beyond disgusted at the thought of this unknown vampire. "He considers himself a scientist. He thinks he's creating a new super-race."

Rory wondered just how many hybrids were there out in the world. Based on what Nahuel said of his father, Joham most definitely needed to be stopped if he was going around the world, purposely impregnating unsuspecting human girls to create more hybrids for his own selfish purposes. Rory made a note to herself to find the vampire once everything else was dealt with.

Alice looked from Nahuel to Huilen, "Are you his mother?"

"No," Huilen shook her head stiffly, "Nahuel is my sister's son." She didn't have to say anything else for them to understand there was a reason she was standing there, and not Nahuel's mother.

"I'm sorry." Rory didn't have to ask to know the woman was still pained over the death of her sister. "I understand your pain, I lost my younger sister not too long ago. My niece's mother is like my sister though, but now she is a newborn."

"Your niece's mother survived labor?" Huilen was surprised by the information, even a little saddened as she thought of her own sister. "I could not save my sister when the time came. She died quickly, after the child ripped his way out of her, all while begging me to care for her Nahuel, her jungle cat. It was her dying wish—and I agreed."

Nahuel turned away, failing to hide his mask of guilt from the trio. Jasper pitied the boy and lifted Nahuel's heavy emotions until he wasn't as upset.

Huilen looked lost in the past momentarily, but she quickly regained her guarded disposition. "I don't see how this is much help for you. What do you need my nephew for anyways? If the Volturi wants to destroy your niece, they'll want to destroy him as well."

"Please," Alice begged, "your story—your past, Nahuel's beginning—is the key to our niece's survival."

"So, will you help us?" Jasper questioned, his mind on the time, or lack thereof.

Alice, emboldened by her instincts and realizing they had nothing else to lose, grabbed Nahuel and Huilen's hands pleadingly. "Please help us, you're our last hope."

Nahuel exchanged a look with his aunt. "Will it be dangerous?"

"We'll make sure neither of you is harmed, I swear," Rory promised in a trusting voice. "Everything will turn out okay, all you have to do is trust us."

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wow it took yall just over a day to complete friday's update...thank you all so much!

so this chapter, maria made a brief appearance, joining our golden-eyed trio on their quest to find a hybrid older than three months lol yall already know that manipulative bitch and our rory would NOT clash at all. rory put up w her way longer than i would've tbh. yall all thought alec had joined them, but surprise! it was jasper's ex maria but now alec's with the cullens in forks while they prepare to face the volturi which is very interesting...what did yall think of the chapter?

next up: the final battle...let me just say, you will all be shocked by the ending 😈

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